Making It Easy For Kids To Improvise

One way teachers get this wrong is when they give too little information/direction,i.e.:

“Play anything you want out of this scale” creates overwhelm and confusion because it’s not specific enough. When this happens, many students will give up or get stuck playing the same things.

Instead, when you give students a scale combined with other constraints, for example, they are more likely to succeed.

The students in this video were given a scale and rhythmic constraints (quarter notes or 8th notes, aka “short or long”). Because every student understood exactly what to do, and it was within their technical/theoretical ability, they all explored the exercise fully.

This is one example of many exercises I use to help students improvise and become well-rounded musicians, with the hopes that they enjoy practicing more and stay with it.

Constraints aren’t barriers. When you give students clear scaffolding, they know what to do. Creativity can be fostered and students will flourish.

For more tools and resources related to improvisation, harmony, and groove in eclectic styles, head to ChristianHowes.com

???? For Transcriptions, Lessons & Proven Strategies to Grow Your Musicianship, subscribe to my free newsletter. It’s actionable and loved by 10,000 subscribers. Subscribe here: https://swiy.co/Subscribe_CH
???? FREE MASTERCLASS - Get lightness, clarity, and better outcomes from your practice with my new masterclass: https://swiy.co/_FreeMasterclassImprovise to Many Styles & Become a more Creative Violin Player: https://swiy.co/_CreativeStringsAcademy
???? EASY ONLINE TRAINING (video lessons, workbooks, play along tracks & more)
???? Join our weekly Zoom Classes: https://hi.switchy.io/CSW_Online
???? Join our yearly summer Creative Strings camp in Asheville, NC: https://hi.switchy.io/CSW_Asheville
???? Free Jazz Violin Transcriptions: https://hi.switchy.io/Free_Jazz_Transcription
???? Free Play Along Lessons & Backing Tracks for teachers and students of all ages and levels: https://hi.switchy.io/Play_Along_Lessons_Home
???? TEACHERS: Bring us to your school or get continued education: https://hi.switchy.io/Teachers_Hub
???? More resources for Creative String Players: https://swiy.co/_ChristianHowes
???? Take part in Chris' program and enhance your skills today! More Infos here: https://swiy.co/ChristianHowesWorkshops
???? Download 8 of my Books for $7 and get a Free Private Lesson with me (new students only) https://hi.switchy.io/CSA_Limited_Offer
???? JOIN the Creative Strings community on Facebook: https://hi.switchy.io/CS_FB_Community
???? 14 best practice tips on how to improvise on violin: https://hi.switchy.io/14_best_practice_tips
???? Creative Strings Podcast: https://hi.switchy.io/CS_Podcast
???? Multimedia courses, easy to digest ebooks, and other downloadable resources: https://hi.switchy.io/Creative_Strings_Shop
???? How to Effectively Practice Violin When You’re Feeling Unmotivated: https://hi.switchy.io/Practice_When_You_Feel_Unmotivated
???? Private LESSONs - https://hi.switchy.io/Private_Lessons Let me show you what I taught my students at the Berklee College of Music and my workshops around the world.
???? Free Blues Fiddle Play-Along Masterclass: https://swiy.co/BluesFiddleGuidedPractice
???? Learn more about playing the blues with my Blues Improvisation Multimedia Series (Videos, Mp3s, Worksheets) : https://swiy.co/_BluesImprovisationCourse

#musiceducation #teachingkids #musickids #orchestrateacher #orchestrakids #orchestraclass #violinstudent #violinteacher #suzukiviolinteacher #constraints #musicimprovisation #musiciankids