composition & improvisation An Invitation Matt Turner, WMEA State Chair, Composition & Improvisation
Wisconsin’s public school music pro- grams have a rich history of provid- ing students with creative and inno- vative educational opportunities. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to
explore improvisation and composition – unusual at that time – in both middle school and high school in Platteville. I am proud to point out that there are now nu- merous teachers around the state who are enriching students’ musical experiences through improvisation and composition, and I enjoy hearing from the many teach- ers who are doing so. For example, Mi- chael Hayden’s orchestra students (grades 6-12) use Ableton Live to create their own pieces which incorporate hip-hop, dub- step, trap and improvisation. Moreover, in previous articles, I have written about numerous band, choral, general music and orchestra teachers who continue to teach improvisation and composition in both class and ensemble settings.
There’s something in the water here in Wisconsin; I’m not sure what it is, but I am eager to know more about your creative endeavors and also to encourage additional teachers to get involved. With that in mind, I would like to invite you to participate in a project that embraces composition and/or improvisation.
The project idea is simple:
• Create a composition/improvisation project adapted to meet the needs of your ensemble. It might include creating an improvisation exercise to be used for a warm-up, composing a group jazz riff piece or improvising to a silent film. The project can be simple, such as improvising over a drone, or it can be elaborate and involved, such as performing a group-composed piece on a concert. Not sure how to get started? That’s where I come in.
• Share your project idea with me prior to implementing your project (this will tell me who wants to participate), and we can be in touch as your project un- folds. My objective is to be a resource
throughout the process. Also, I encour- age you to seek out other teachers who have experience with composition and/or improvisation and learn from them.
• Let’s make this exciting! Imagine a collaborative effort that integrates dis- ciplines outside of music, or includes movement/dance, or uses technology. Everything is on the table!
I realize that some teachers might be reluctant to participate because they may feel inexperienced with improvising and composing. Even though this may feel like a challenge, I want teachers to feel com- fortable and have this be an enjoyable ex- perience. Let’s find ways to work together and make this a successful effort.
Please feel free to contact me at the email address below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Matt Turner is a cellist, pianist and com- poser. He teaches improvisation at Lawrence University. Email:
matthew.l.turner@lawrence.edu
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www.nafme.org 34 September 2016
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