Introduction.
What is Improvisation?
Improvisation is the concept that allows us to spontaneously create and play music, unleashing our creativity and musical expression. It's a realm of freedom where the rules of music are bent, and new melodies are born.
It is like driving a car.
An eight-year-old girl decided she needed to go to Target. While her mom was taking a nap, she got into her mom's car and drove herself to Target. Thankfully, someone saw her and called the police. They found her at Target and prevented her from driving home. As she put it, she had places to go and didn't have time to wait for her mom.
Improvisation is a lot like driving a car. We learn the rules of the road and the structure, then decide to get from one point to the next. We can't perfectly plan and prepare for what will happen on the road; maybe a car will cut in front of us, or we get stuck in traffic, but we continue down the road. Improvisation is like this.
Some people never learn to read music; they feel and play with instinct. Many great artists do not read music at all. Then, others carefully think about and analyze every part of the rules of music and move forward. Either way is fine. As we grow as musicians, we will become better improvisers.
Level of Play and Improvising Skills
Improvining skills increase with your overall violin skill level. As you improve your ablity to play things that directly translates too improvisation.
4 Most Common Improvisation Scenarios for the Violin .
Can You Play With Me Now
Bring Out The Melody
Harmony or The Break
Rhythm or The Back-Up
Create Your Own
Can You Play With Me Now
The most important skill you will learn is being able to play with others without knowing what key you are in or what the song is supposed to sound like. It is common in musical performances where a fellow musician might invite you to join in a spontaneous jam session. It tests your ability to adapt and play along without prior knowledge of the song or key. This is the hardest one to do and the most important. It has to do with listening while you are playing and making decisions inthe moment about what to do.
Lemon Principle
When playing by ear, listening is the best way to determine if a note sounds good. If the note sounds good, keep it. If it sounds terrible, quickly switch to a new note.
Example
Play with this exercise, and make your instrument sound beautiful.
Can You Play With Me Now.
Practice Excercise
Pick a few new songs to jam or play along with:
1. Play the song on a speaker or headphones and play the violin. The goal is to create in the moment without worrying about how it will sound.
2. Choose a new group of songs to jam with. Record yourself playing with the music and then listen to the recording. Take notes on your performance.
3. Select a few songs and find the key signature for the recording you are playing. Make sure the key of the recording and the noted key match. Then, practice jamming to the recording, now knowing the key signature.
Hint: To hear the violin and notes better, use a practice mute or clothespins to make the violin quieter.
Bring Out The Melody
The concept of bringing out the melody involves playing the original song and then adding your creative elements to personalize the piece. This can be achieved in two ways. One approach is to play the melody and incorporate your own stylistic touches at points or throughout the piece, alternating between the original melody and your variations. The second approach involves more structured planning, where, as a group, it is agreed that during a specific 5-8 bar section, you will play a solo variation of the melody while others play the accompanying harmony. In either case, the goal is to maintain the song's essence while infusing it with your interpretation. For example, consider the numerous versions of your favorite Christmas carol you may have heard. Each rendition is unique and reflects the individuality of the performer.
Listen To These Examples:
Exercise
Play with Twinkle Twinkle, practicing going on and off the main melody and adding your own unique style and touch.
The first time, play the main melody with the piano. The second time, the piano will drop out, leaving you to play a solo version of Twinkle. Then, the group will jump in and play the melody with you.
Practice Excercise
Choose a song that you can easily play and then start adding your own improvisational elements. Practicing with familiar songs provides a comfortable platform to experiment and enhance your improvisation skills.
Record Yourself praticing with a song you are familure with and then listen to yourself back so you have a good idea of what elements are good and others that you want to change.
Break or Harmony
The purpose of the break or harmony is not to play the melody. You are the supporting notes that make the music sound beautiful. When playing improvisation on the violin, you are often weaving between the melody and the break or harmony, but sometimes, you will need to simply be the back-up person.
Simply play anything but the main melody and avoid dissonant notes to accomplish this.
Listen To This Example:
Excercise
Pratice playing with the recording but do not play the melody. Play anything else but the melody.
Practice Excercise
Pick a recording of your favorite song and play the harmony or the break, but do not play the melody notes.
Rhythm or Back-up
The violin is one of the most diverse insturments there are. Violins can be solo insturments, they can make harmony notes, and they can even double as the rhythm section.
Listen To These Examples:
Playing Rhythm to Drive The Piece
Rhythm can really drive and make the piece sound exciting and unique. Use double stops or single notes from the piece in a rhythmic fashion to drive the sound forward.
Chop Bowing
Chop bowing is harshly using your bow to create a unique sound.
Violin Knock
Using a knuckle or hand to tap the violin can also create a unique rhythm.
Exercise
Practice playing through Twinkle Twinkle Littel Star using rhythm to make the piece come alive.
Practice Excercise
Create your own piece of music that is mostly focused on rhythm instead of melody.
Create Your Own Melody
A great way to get used to the idea of improvisation is to just simply freely improvise walk around your home while playing the violin and simply see what your brain creates.