Melody
1. Stand in a circle with instruments.Learn the Japanese "Light and Dark scales"
1.1 Select a note to sound continuously (a "pedal") and play the scale over the top.Get used to the feel of the scale and try playing it over other pedal notes. Try using notes outside of the scale.
1.2 Improvise a melody that travels round the circle, person by person,using the notes of the scale.Try to give the melody some shape by deciding where the melody might be:
- the loudest
- the softest
- the fastest
- the slowest
- the highest
- the lowest
1.3 Start two melodies travelling round the circle, one after the other.
1.4 Repeat using another mode or scale. Try inventing one of your own.
1.5 Split the class into smaller groups. Ask each group to invent a short melody or motif, (just one or two phrases long) based on notes from one of the scales.
Although this should be set and learnt, it should have a relaxed, improvisatory feel.
You may want to give some evocative words or suggest a title to encourage a certain 'feel' or mood.
1.6 Perform the new melodies, then listen to:
Tree Line bars 5 - 8
- Click button to play
[introduction] [stage 2] [l.s.1]
