IMPROVISATION LESSON PLAN

Composition: Symphony No.4 Mvt.2, Felix Mendelssohn

Student Learning Outcome: Students will improvise a four-measure solo that uses melodic elements from the source material.

California Standard: Int.MU:E.Cr1- Compose and improvise ideas for melodies and rhythmic passages based on characteristic(s) of music or
text(s) studied in rehearsal.

Identify
 Musical Element(s) (e.g. specify from categories—melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, texture, form, etc.): Melody
 Musical Actions (e.g. composing, improvising, performing, listening, etc.): Improvising
 Musical Skills (technique needed to accomplish action/element): fingerings for concert D minor scale. Moveable solfeggio (D is do, A is
sol).

Learning Activities:
Time Issue/ Scaffolded Activities Assessment
allocatio Musical Element  Active learning  Kind of assessment (formal, informal,
n  Scaffolded for higher-order thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, evaluation, interpretation, self, peer)
transfer)  Criteria being assessed
 Groupings within activities
Concert D minor  Echoing pitches Informal- correct pitches
scale o Individual Pitches
o Half the scale
o Full scale
Rhythmic &  Echoing rhythm and pitch Informal- correct pitches and
Pitch patters o Simple rhythms & steps wise motion rhythms
o Leaps up with steps down
o Arpeggio D min chord
Accompaniment  Sight read Informal- correct pitches and
rhythms
Improvisation  Exploration (split into two groups) Student self-assessment-
rhythm o Incorporate rhythmic examples with harmonic accompaniment 3x appropriate pitches and rhythms
 Students having trouble can improvise on concert A
o Switch roles
Improvisation  Ask to add melodic shaping Student self-assessment-
melodic o Pitch patterns appropriate pitches and rhythms
 o Perform with accompaniment 3x
o Switch roles
Improvisation  Exploration for soloist with focus on creating a new melody Positively recognize rhythmic and
solo pitch patterns that are used

Required Materials: Instruments, sheet music, music stands, (speakers and device to play recording)