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Landscaping

In the broadest terms “landscaping” suggests how to set up an improvisation.

The teacher provides an introductory atmosphere beyond verbal instruction to the student before the improvisation itself begins. Landscaping can be used to prompt both ‘in and out of tempo’ improvisation formats. ‘Out of tempo’ landscapes can be used for basic identification of a specific element. ‘In tempo’ landscapes would be used as materials evolve from identification to student performance of an element.

The element being improvised and the level of the material further suggest the teacher’s landscaping of the improvisation.

Examples

Rhythm: Setting up the tempo

  1. With Conducting
    1. Orchestral: Right Hand
    2. Choral: Both Hands
  2. With Clapping
    1. Left to right, right to left, up/down, down/up, across the body diagonally left to right, right to left
  3. With the voice
    1. Speaking: “Ta” for two, three or four measures
    2. Singing: ‘Lu’ for two, three or four measures
  4. At the piano or guitar
    1. Play a single note for two, three, or four measures clearly accenting the downbeat of the time signature of the exercise
    2. Play a single note for two, three, or four measures clearly accenting the downbeat of the time signature of the exercise
    3. Play an appropriate chord progression clearly accenting the downbeat of the time signature of the exercise
  5. At another ‘melodic’ instrument
    1. Same as above and outline a chord progression melodically with the rhythmic issue present that is being discussed

Melody

Singing and playing scales creates a context for hearing and performing many elements of music.

  1. Speak Scales using Numbers, Letters, Solfege, Letters
  2. Sing Scale on Lu
  3. Sing Scale on Solfege
  4. Sing Scale on Scale Degree Numbers

Harmony

Landscaping harmony enables students to identify a harmony (major, minor, augmented, diminished) and chord tones (root, third, fifth) within a harmony. If an electronic keyboard is available, hold down all notes of the harmony in question.

Tonality

Improvising a ‘tonic’ note with:

  1. the voice
    1. A single note
    2. Triads
  2. the Piano or guitar
    1. A single note
    2. Triads
  3. another instrument
    1. A single note
    2. An ‘arpeggiated’ triad
  4. triads, played melodically or harmonically
    1. Major
    2. Minor
    3. Diminished
    4. Augmented