From Sight to Sound Improvisational Games for Classical Musicians [Paperback]

From Sight to Sound provides practical and creative techniques for classical improvisation for musicians of all levels and instruments, solo or in ensembles. These exercises build aural and communicative skills, instrumental technique, and musical understanding. When students use their instruments to execute and improvise on theoretical concepts, they make vivid connections between abstract ideas and their own playing. This then allows students to unite performance with music theory, ear-training, historical style and context, chamber music skills, and listening skills. Many of the exercises in this book are designed for players working in pairs or small groups to encourage performers to communicate with one another and build an atmosphere of trust in which creativity and spontaneity may flourish.

Nicole M. Brockmann is Assistant Professor of Music at DePauw University. She holds a DMA in viola performance from Yale University and is a past president of the Dalcroze (Eurythmics) Society of American. She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Improvise? What For?
2. Building Listening Skills
Pitch Switch
Intervals
Pitch Chains
Sing and Play
More Sing and Play
Advanced Sing and Play
One Third Plus One Third Equals One Fifth
Getting to the Root of the Problem
Sound Effects
Rhythmic Scales
3. Simple Melodic Improvisations
Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice (That's What Melodies Are Made of)
Fast-Forward
He Says, She Says
Rhythm in an Alternate Universe
Music Plus One
Mosaic
Keep Away
Fill in the Blank
Non-Tonal Improvisations
Strings Alone
Drone
Snake
4. Melody and Harmony: Improvisations for Ensembles
Round-Robin Ostinati
The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts
Means, Motive, and Opportunity
Monkey Hear, Monkey Do
Chorale
Musical Volleyball
Switch and Signal
Dialogue (Melody/Countermelody Echo)
Pas de Deux
Pedal to thlÚ