Summer is a great time to think outside of the box as you lesson plan! Flexibility with your lesson plans in the summer is also key, since students are often taking more sporadic lessons due to summer vacations, camps, sports, and other activities.
Over the past few weeks, I have been sharing a series of fun lesson plans that are perfect for busy students (and teachers) this summer! Each lesson plan includes links to FREE worksheets and activities that can be completed in the space of a 30 minute lesson.
This week, I am wrapping up the series with a lesson plan that just might be my favorite out of the whole bunch! Lesson Plan #5 is designed to get your students' creative juices flowing with a focus on improvisation!
Keep reading to learn more....
Over the past few weeks, I have been sharing a series of fun lesson plans that are perfect for busy students (and teachers) this summer! Each lesson plan includes links to FREE worksheets and activities that can be completed in the space of a 30 minute lesson.
This week, I am wrapping up the series with a lesson plan that just might be my favorite out of the whole bunch! Lesson Plan #5 is designed to get your students' creative juices flowing with a focus on improvisation!
Keep reading to learn more....
Improvisation is one of my favorite activities to teach. However, many students find improv to be intimidating! This lesson plan is designed to help students become comfortable with the process of improv by doing 4 short activities, each one a bit more complex than the last, that provide parameters to set students up for improv success.
Ready? Let's improv!
Activity #1: Story-Based Improvisation.
These are wonderful activities to introduce students to the concept of improv, since all they need to do is create "sound effects" at the piano. I've had success using these activities with students of every age and skill level--even brand-new beginners can do these activities at a very first lesson!
Print out one, or both, of the story-based improv worksheets below. Read the story while your student chooses sounds at the piano that match the story.
Ready? Let's improv!
Activity #1: Story-Based Improvisation.
These are wonderful activities to introduce students to the concept of improv, since all they need to do is create "sound effects" at the piano. I've had success using these activities with students of every age and skill level--even brand-new beginners can do these activities at a very first lesson!
Print out one, or both, of the story-based improv worksheets below. Read the story while your student chooses sounds at the piano that match the story.
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Activity #2: Improvising over a 12 Bar Blues pattern.
This is another improv activity that works well with all levels because it is easy to customize. Use the suggestions on the worksheet to tailor this activity to your student's skill level. They can improvise along with you as you play the accompaniment part on the worksheet, then try improvising along with the backing track found below on YouTube.
This is another improv activity that works well with all levels because it is easy to customize. Use the suggestions on the worksheet to tailor this activity to your student's skill level. They can improvise along with you as you play the accompaniment part on the worksheet, then try improvising along with the backing track found below on YouTube.
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| Activity #3: Improvising a melody over a given chord progression. Next, let's level up our improv by creating a melody to match a given chord progression! This worksheet uses one of my favorite chord progressions for students that are new to improv--the minor sounds of this progression are always a hit! Ask students to create a melody using the given rhythm and notes from the A minor pentascale. |  |
| Activity #4: Improvising over a backing track. Finally, let's take our Spanish-style chord progression from the worksheet above and improv a bit more freely with it using this free backing track from YouTube! Students can play just the chords (blocked or broken); just the melody; or put both together, creating their own rhythm to match the backing track. This activity also requires students to listen for the chord changes, since the chords in the progression change more quickly during the chorus of this track. | |
What do you think? Do you incorporate improv into your lessons? What activities would you add to this lesson plan? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
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