Modernizing European Higher Music Education Through Improvisation
Tonal/Classical

Series 1 - Classical structure - periodic phrase

David Dolan |Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London

Exercise 1: Duo, Classical structure - periodic phrase

Improvising call & response between flute & piano, starting with solo call and solo response, moving on to duo short development.

Exercise 2: Duo, Classical structure - periodic phrase

Improvising singer joins & follows a piano tonal improvisation that includes modulations. (note moments when the singer prolongs notes on which harmonic changes occur).

Exercise 3: Trio tonal improvisations in classical structure

Flautist and singer improvise in counterpoint together with piano improvisations in classical style while harmonic changes evolve. The listening challenge is both between singer and flautist as well as the duo and the piano.

Exercise 4: Enhancing active listening in chamber music

Step by step 2 members of a string quartet develop duo improvisations (classical style periodic phrasing) before joining together for a Vn, Vla and piano trio improvisation of an extended theme’s section. Note the slight struggle to feel in advance the right moment to end the section together.

Exercise 5: Classical structure - Tonally free

Starting by call & response between a string quartet and piano, the quintet continues to develop a theme’s section. Note the classical phrase structure while inner voices converse more freely. Relations of tension/release are similar to the tonal exercises.

Author David Dolan

Institution Guildhall School of Music & Drama - London

Players Kate Smith (voice), David Dolan (Pn).

Date of recording 04.03.2017

Editor Mark Rainbow (GSMD)

Feedback david.dolan@gsmd.ac.uk