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Façades, Philip Glass

Improvisation

Follow these steps to practice improvising in Façades, ready for your class performance!

First, download the GarageBand file or the MP3 of the backing track - make sure you click the download button in the top right corner. (If you download the MP3, find a way to record yourself over the backing track - by using your phone or another DAW e.g. FL Studio, Soundtrap, Logic).

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The GarageBand file has a track for you ready to record yourself and the backing to the improvisation section is looped six times - but feel free to loop these more by dragging on the loop icon at the top right hand corner of the track. When recording yourself, use headphones so that the microphone doesn't catch the playback.​

Backing Track screenshot.png

In the following steps you'll be recording yourself improvise, but remember, nobody else has to listen to these recordings so this is the perfect time to try new things!

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  1. Practice the scales written on your part. Once you are comfortable playing the scales, record yourself playing them over the backing track. After a few times, try playing different rhythms (this includes having rests/leaving spaces between some notes). Listen back to these to see what you like and what you don't like!

  2. ​Play the notes only coloured in blue/circled in different rhythms. Again, record these and listen back to see what sounds you like and what you don't like!​

Now that you're familiar with the notes and have saved some sounds and patterns that you like,

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  1. Come up with short phrases (musical sentences). Vary the dynamics (loud/soft) and articulation (e.g. short/detached, smooth). Try to make this improvisation fast! Record this and save parts that you like.

  2. Create some longer phrases (more similar to the original melody). Again, vary the dynamics and articulation, but this time make the improvisation feel slower. Record this and save parts that you like.

  3. Compare the fast and slow improvisations. Describe the different moods that they create. Which do you prefer? Does it work to mix parts from the two? 

  4. Improvise using parts that you liked from any of the previous steps, and try new things! Save this and be ready to improvise in class!

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