Middle School String Improvisation and Composition: A Beginning

by Schnittgrund, Tammy L.

Schnittgrund, Tammy, M.A., Summer 2007 Fine Arts, Integrated Arts and Education Middle School String Improvisation and Composition: A Beginning Committee Chair: Dorothy Morrison This project involved of a middle school orchestra teachers first attempt at teaching improvisation and composition. The journey began by teaching the basic steps in playing a twelve bar chord progression. Improvised rhythms played on one note were integrated into the progression. The students discovered how to create an improvised melody by playing two notes in a rhythmic pattern. Additional notes were added gradually. The students were asked to notate their improvised melodies and create new compositions using the same technique. After completing their composition, a narrative was written describing their melody and their experiences while composing music. A performance of their melody, with the orchestra accompanying, completed the project.