1

2017 UMTA CONFERENCE November 3 & 4, 2017

Salt Lake Community College Taylorsville-Redwood Campus

Developing an Ear for Improvisation through Singing

Christian Bohnenstengel

Ideas for improvisation on an existing melody

- Alter the rhythm - Improvise on chord tones (or harmonization) - Melodic embellishment

Examples for melodic embellishment written by Mozart (see appendix):

1. based on K. 333

2. K. 333

3. K. 284

4. K. 332

5. K. 332

6. K. 311

7. K. 311

2

Example 1: London Bridge

1. Original

2. Harmonization (sing the words and rhythm on any chord tone)

3. Rhythmic alteration

4. Melodic embellishment

Example 2: Happy Birthday

1. Original

2. Harmonization

3

3. Rhythmic alteration

4. Melodic embellishment

Example 3: Mozart’s K. 545

1. Original

2. Rhythmic alteration

3. Melodic embellishment

4. Melodic embellishment

4

5

Appendix: Examples for melodic embellishment in Mozart’s piano sonatas

K. 284, Thema – Andante

K. 284, Adagio cantabile, Var. IX

K. 332, Adagio

6

K. 311, Andante con espressione

K. 333, Adagio cantabile