Curated OER
My Way
Students culminate a humanities project by improvising music to accompany a video of a particular era in US history.
Curated OER
Yes But Dialogue Game (3+)
Young scholars work cooperatively to explore and practice dialogue improvisation.
Curated OER
Shadow Dances
Students explore the physical phenomenon of shadows through movement improvisation and dance. They create an original dance phrase based on this imagery. All students then reproduce accurately the movement choices of another dancer.
Curated OER
Lesson 1: Theatre Arts
Learners create and perform based on cuttings from various plays and literature to demonstrate the learning of the process of improvisation. Students connect improvisation with theatre and real life. Learners participate in a class...
Curated OER
Jam Sessions
Students examine the connection between sense of humor and jazz improvisation by identifying the musical instruments imitated by comedian Bill Cosby. They listen to another recording by Clark Terry and write what they think he might be...
Curated OER
Japanese Noh Masks
Students examine Japanese theatre and create their own face masks which display certain emotions, props, costumes and perform in improvisational theatrical games.
Curated OER
Jazz: Expression through Improvisation
Students watch a video on improvisation. They improvise original melodies over given chord progressions. They develop criteria to evaluate the merits of improvisational performances and apply the criteria in their personal listening and...
Curated OER
Jazz: An Expression of Democracy
Students watch a video segment about the distinguishing characteristics of jazz. They describe those characteristics and the relation between the culture of jazz and democracy. They improvise simple rhythms and melodies.
Curated OER
Tickling the Brain
Students improvise scenes which relate to the plot of Much Ado About Nothing.
Other
Down Beat: John Coltrane
Biographical information, photos, and a discography of jazz great John Coltrane, whose work in the 1960s included excursions into free jazz.
Other
Jazz Improvisation Primer
An info-packed lesson on jazz improvisation and jazz history. Very useful for musicians aspiring to play in the jazz idiom.
Other
Amg: All Music Guide: Charlie Parker
A comprehensive resource devoted to all aspects of Charlie Parker including a biography, links to his contemporaries and influences, a complete discography with reviews, and a bibliography.
Other
Improvisational Theater Structures
List of definitions of improvisational terms or "structures," each with a link that explains in detail with lots of exercises!
Scott Alexander
Lucille Bogan ( Bessie Jackson)
Information on the life and discography of blues artist Lucille Bogan, also known as Bessie Jackson. Includes audio samples.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: How to Blues
This site has ten lessons to teach about the blues in which students learn the geography, historical events and performers associated with the blues. The unit has been recognized by the American Music Education Initiative as one of the...
Other
Poetics by Aristotle
Well here it is, the basis for Art Imitating Nature! This site is all text translated by S. H. Butcher. 26 chapters on the subject. If you wondered about the origins of the concept, here it is.
Other
Online Mallet Lessons
This site contains numerous tips and suggestions dealing with many facets of playing the vibraphone and marimba. Although much of the information is jazz oriented, some is general enough that it could easily be applied to xylophone and...
Other
Visual Jazz Publications
This company produces educational materials to help you succeed in jazz improvisation and sight reading. Of note on their site is "The Art of Improvisation," a free download that guides you through the improvisational process.
Other
Vic Firth: Educator's Resource Library
This website is a cornucopia of resources for percussion instruction. There are videos, audiocasts, podcasts, interviews with talented percussionists. Please check out this website is you are interested in any aspect of percussion.
Other
The Spolin Center: Viola Spolin
The Spolin Center website offers information and workshops based on Viola Spolin groundbreaking improvisational methods. Also includes nontheatrical applications for businesses, etc. Links to Improvisation Webring included.
TES Global
Tes: Drama Cards Genres
[Free Registration/Login Required] Scenes from stories can be enhanced with this set of drama cards. Students can use a genre card to improvise a scene or use a card with one drama and then shift to another genre with the choosing of...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Childe Hassam
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, this site provides biographical information on Childe Hassam in addition to an extensive listing of his works as displayed at the museum.
Other
Canadian Improv Games
If you have or want to start an improvisation group at your school this would be an amazing opportunity for you to check out. Open only to schools in Canada, the Canadian Improv Games is a friendly competition where high school students...
Other
Learn Improv
This site is a place to learn about the art of improvisational comedy. "One cannot really learn improvisational comedy from a web page, however the list of exercises included here will definitely help."