An Introduction to improvisation and Jazz

I run a one day seminar/workshop aimed at giving instrumental teachers
an introduction to teaching improvisation and basic jazz techniques.
The day is designed for groups of up to 60 people with some of them
taking part in demonstration exercises.

I also examine the concepts behind improvisation, emphasising the
importance of an intuitive approach before introducing too much theory.

Outline of the day

A brief history
The benefits of working on improvisation
A different view of improvisation
What is improvisation?

Analogy with speech

Perceptions/Expectations

First attempts at improvisation

Objectives

Ideas to challenge/help student

Preparation exercises

The Competence Ladder
Introducing some theory... the Learning Cycle

In the afternoon I show how the approaches to jazz improvisation
have developed through the 20th century and how each approach can
be used as teaching technique.

Introducing the jazz element

Collective playing

Paraphrase (decorating the melody)

Chordal improvisation (playing up and down the chord tones)

Formulaic improvisation (using preset phrases)

Modal improvisation (using one scale)

Melodic development

Free form (the return of collective improvisation!)
Taking it further