Syncopation: Landscaping
Goal: To set up the basic contexts needed to improvise with syncopation.
Out of Tempo
All Levels
“Out of Tempo” exercises are not presented separately in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV improvisations. Should any exercise prove difficult performed in tempo, out of tempo versions of the materials in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV can be modeled on Ear Training I and Ear Training II approaches to out of tempo improvisations.
In Tempo
Teacher sets up a tempo, time signature, tonality, rhythms.
Start with one note per measure and add different rhythms as students become more comfortable with the exercise. For more confident students, use non-repeating notes and rhythm patterns.
Refer to the Syncopation ‘Smorgasbord’ for ideas.
Beginning
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Here is a steady beat in four-four time. Choose a syncopation and sing or play it with me.”
- Students do so.
Intermediate
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Here is a steady beat in three-four time. Choose a syncopation and sing or play it with me.”
- Students do so.
Advanced
- Teacher sets up as above and prompts, “Here is a steady beat in six-eight time. Choose a syncopation and sing or play it with me.”
- Students do so.