We’ve been exploring many different starting points from which to base improvisation including words, poetry, and scales. This week, we invite you to only focus on sound. It may seem as if focusing on sound is a given in any musical improvisation, but oftentimes musicians focus on so many details when playing that sound can easily be moved to the back burner. As you improvise and explore this week, what does it feel like to only focus on sound?
Adult non-musicians: Experiment with this Wheel Decide containing various animal sounds. But don’t just make the sound on which the wheel stops; imagine the scene of which this sound is a part. Why is the animal making that sound? Are there other creatures nearby? What should the sound portray about the animal? After setting the scene, use your voice or body percussion to make the sound. What does it feel like to create in this way?
K–8: Spin this Wheel Decide containing various animal sounds. Before making a sound, brainstorm about why the animal would be making that sound. Is he hungry or happy? Does she want to be with friends or be alone? After setting the scene, use your instrument to create the sound. Maybe try imagining a new scene with the same animal sound, or try a new sound and have someone guess what animal you’re portraying. Is it fun to improvise this way?
Musicians: How are you feeling right now? Create an improvisation that communicates your feelings through sound. For example, if you’re feeling tired and run-down, maybe your sounds would be soft, heavy, and labored. Or if you’re feeling anxious, your sounds might be shaky, frantic, and uncontrolled. Does improvising this way help you think of sound differently, or does it help you understand your emotions differently?