Improvising and polishing variations as a group.
Prior to this activity, the class has worked on repertoire that includes
variations on a theme. The variation techniques have been analyzed and described.
Groups of 4 or 5 people are formed. Each group works on interconnected
headphones. Different harmonized themes are given to each group. The themes
must be basic and skeletal enough as to allow many different types of variations.
The group learns and practices the theme. Different types of variations are
internally decided and assigned. The group is separated to allow individual
work. Each student improvises and records (in the keyboard sequencer) a
variation. The group is connected again. Each student plays the improvisation
from the sequencer, and receives comments and suggestions from the group.
More individual time is then allowed to incorporate suggestions. After one
final group check, the group plays the whole set of variations for the class
from their sequencers.