Patterning

Improvising with set patterns, be it of rhythm, melody, or harmony, is an effective way to transition from improvisations of individual sounds to larger musical contours, phrases, and forms. ‘Pre-assembled’ patterns of rhythm, melody, and harmony are presented by the teacher and are improvised with individually before they are combined. ‘Patterning’ of harmony, for example, can be used to develop an understanding of sequencing and modulation in more advanced musicianship contexts.

Rhythm Patterns

1. Clapped
2. Spoken ‘Ta’d’ or sung with ‘Lu’
3. Sung in a Scale using scale degree numbers, letters, solfege
4. Played at the piano, guitar or other instrument

Melody

1. Lower Neighbor Tone
   1. An individual LNT
   2. A scale of LNTs
2. Upper Neighbor Tone
   1. An individual UNT
   2. A scale of UNTs
3. Other Embellishing tones
   1. An individual UNT
   2. A scale of UNTs
4. Harmony (Harmonic Progression Examples)
   1. I – V – I
   2. I – IV – V – I
   3. I – vi – ii – V - I