Date of Award

Fall 2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

School

Music

Committee Chair

Dr. John Wooton

Committee Chair School

Music

Committee Member 2

Dr. Joseph Brumbeloe

Committee Member 2 School

Music

Committee Member 3

Dr. Edward Hafer

Committee Member 3 School

Music

Committee Member 4

Dr. Benjamin Mcllwain

Committee Member 4 School

Music

Committee Member 5

Dr. Richard Perry

Committee Member 5 School

Music

Abstract

Typically, when studying percussion at a University, a student is required to be proficient at multiple aspects of percussion (snare drum, mallet keyboards, drum set, hand drumming, etc.) and work through multiple method books and solos on the different instruments. This often leaves little to no room for the study of improvisation on their instrument.

Examined in this study are the following points pertaining to the state of teaching improvisation:

  • There is an apparent lack of improvisation in the classroom
  • Teachers often feel unprepared in teaching improvisation
  • Improvisation is most commonly associated with jazz
  • Both teachers and students tend to experience anxiety when encountering improvisation
  • The recent changes to the National Music Standards (2014) puts a greater emphasis on improvisation
  • While many teachers feel unprepared to teach improvisation as a subject, most are willing to learn

This project will address these points and provide percussionists with fundamental skills in improvisation. This study contains three original concert percussion ensemble pieces that provide a structured foundation for beginning improvisation using a four step method. First, improvising using only chord tones. Second, improvising using scalar patterns. Third, incorporating digital riffs into the improvisation. Fourth, improvising using a combination of the three methods.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-9320-762X

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