For this month's composing theme, I'm introducing Leila Viss's "Cupcake Improv" improvisation activity to my intermediate piano students. The monthly challenge is to create an improvisation with their favorite "cake, frosting and sprinkles" combo or try a Create First improvisation pattern by Forrest Kinney. I love how the QR codes on the cupcake improv handouts have videos students can review at home if needed.
Creating Interesting Melodies (aka "Sprinkles")
We reviewed motif's and ways to vary them (sequence, inversion, etc) with a game of melodic motif bingo.
Cake Chord Progression Samples
Next we listened to a few excerpts from the song samples below to hear how the "cake" chord progression patterns are included in many familiar songs.
White Cake Sample - Zootopia (Key of D flat Major)
Yellow Cake Samples -
- Forrest Kinney Heart and Soul Blues
- Tightrope (Key of A)
- Lauren Daigel "Thank God I Do" Verses (Key of G Major)
Red Velvet Cake Sample - Forrest Kinney Create First Garden
Cookie Dough Cake Samples - Spanish Dance Jennifer Eklund/ Leila Viss Noodle
Cookie Dough Variation Sample (using e minor not E M Major) Ocean without a Shore
Create First Chord-Based Improvisation Patterns
Chord Pattern Inversions
Which improvisation style is your favorite?
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