Basics and Pedagogy of Improvisation and Composing (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Objective

You understand the importance of improvisation as part of the development of music. You know the different ways, forms, and contexts of improvisation and composition.

You dare to try tools related to improvisation and composing. You can improvise in a variety of musical contexts. You can produce, record, and share your own musical ideas. You realize what improvisation and composing means to you. You understand your strengths in creating music as a future pedagog.

You can instruct a wide variety of individuals and groups to improvise and compose. You are able to encourage and help learners to produce their own musical ideas. You are also able to guide learners to listen to their music-making and relate it to what others are doing.

Content

During the study module you'll explore the forms and aspects of musical invention, the tools of rehearsing improvisation and composing and orient to pedagogical methods of improvisation and composing.

Location and time

On tuesdays at 9-12 at Luova luokka and from there dividing to band rooms (rooms 261 and 045).
Beginning of the lesson always starts at Monitoimisali.

On lectures the whole group is in Luova luokka at 10:30-12.
When we rehearse the learning assignments practically playing/group working we meet in Luova luokka and then form ensembles, which rehearse in luova luokka and ensemble rooms. Some ensembles train at 9-10:30 and some at 10:30-12 in luova luokka, 261 and 042.

On the first lesson is introduction of the schedule and practicalities.

Materials

Study material including learning tasks will be shared during the study module.

Teaching methods

You'll be part of a group during the contact lessons as well as work independently (study material including learning tasks, rehearsing improvisation skills, rehearsing composing skills, reflecting pedagogy of creative music making, observation, discussion).

Employer connections

You'll visit improvisation or composition lesson and write an essay of your observations. You'll share your observations to the group.

Exam schedules

Exam of the study module consists of compulsory tasks:
instrument group-team work (including composition task and implementation), final composition (including concert or recording), observation-essay and composing/performing a solo.

Student workload

Contact lessons 60 h

Independent practising (study material, learning tasks, rehearsing composing and improvisation skills, observing) 75 h

In all 135 h

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Pass (S):
You understand the importance of music creation in the development of music. You know forms of musical invention as well as their pedagogical possibilities.

You boldly try to improvise with an instrument you are familiar with. By improvising, you demonstrate your ability to produce musical ideas in a variety of contexts. You are able to come up with musical ideas and record them in a format that can be shared with others.

You demonstrate your ability to guide learning situations regarding music creation in a way that is encouraging and supportive of musical interaction.

Fail (0):
You don't understand the importance of music creation in the development of music. You don't know forms of musical invention or their pedagogical possibilities.

You don't dare to try to improvise with an instrument you are familiar with. By improvising, you can not demonstrate your ability to produce musical ideas in a variety of contexts. You are not able to come up with musical ideas or record them in a format that can be shared with others.

You can not demonstrate your ability to guide learning situations regarding music creation in a way that is encouraging and supportive of musical interaction.

Further information

You'll utilize self- and peer review as a part of continuing learning of improvisation and composing, as well as their pedagogical skills.