Piano and Improvisation Classes
With César Latorre
All levels beginner and advanced.
ONLINE and IN-PERSON · INDIVIDUAL and GROUP
What is improvisation?
Improvising in music is about communication; it's speaking through the instrument to convey ideas and emotions in the moment, either without a prior plan or with a predetermined harmonic framework, as seen in jazz.
Advantages of improvisation
Improvisation unifies all technical, harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic knowledge of the musician, allowing them to develop their musical creativity in real time.
Psychology of improvisation
Improvisation doesn't have to be complex. In fact, we improvise daily in many aspects of life. In music, many melodies recognized today in genres like classical or popular music originated as written improvisations. Great composers like Paganini or Liszt were known for their improvised concerts. Contrary to what one might think, improvisation does not require extensive knowledge of composition or analysis. Many musicians without formal training, in genres like jazz or traditional music, are excellent improvisers.
Objectives
To connect the student’s prior knowledge, whether in music theory, harmony, or performance, to provide the necessary foundations for spontaneous music creation.
We will work on:
- Ear training techniques: Reacting to harmonies, question-and-answer exercises, and transcription.
- Melodic creation: Phrasing, melodic language over harmonies, and constructing solos in genres such as jazz, bossa, Latin, pop, among others.
- Videos and audios: We will draw inspiration from examples of professionals from various genres where improvisation plays a crucial role.
Intentions for beginner classes
The main objective is to teach the basics of musical improvisation and its techniques through simple content. The goal is for students to develop the ability to create music instantly.
We will work on:
- Auditory development: The ability to improvise coherently depends on what we hear in our imagination. Techniques such as imitation, transcription, and “pre-visualization” of sound will be part of the course.
- Melodic development: Constructing melodic phrases with and without harmonic support, using embellishments, melodic inflections, and phrasing.
- Harmonic development: Recognizing basic chords such as major, minor, half-diminished, diminished, and altered.
- Melodic-harmonic relationship: Exploring the relationship between scales and chords. We will analyze the degrees of major, melodic minor, and harmonic minor scales to expand our sonic horizon and resource palette.
- Rhythmic development: Working on “groove” and various rhythmic patterns in styles like Latin, swing, and funk.
- Development of interaction: In a group, musicians must communicate with each other and with the audience. Free jazz will be a tool to foster this musical dialogue.
Aspects to work on:
- Theory: Introduction to the harmonic-melodic language of jazz.
- Transcription: Written transcription of solos.
- Reproduction and analysis of solos: Playing and analyzing solos both aurally and theoretically.
- Solo construction: Written creation of a solo over a song or harmonic progression, working on interpretation and phrasing.
- Accompanying solos: Techniques for the rhythm section, bass lines, voicings for harmonic instruments, and rhythms for percussion.
- Spontaneous creation (free jazz): Creating music with very simple guidelines without an harmonic structure.
- Ensemble: Performing songs under the structure of exposition-solos-reexposition.
- Guided listening and auditory analysis: Recognition of the “personality” of different performers and analysis of their improvisations.
These classes are ideal for those who want to develop their improvisational skills and find their own musical voice!
CURSOS
Improvisation workshop
Introduction to improvisation for students of all levels and instruments.
Improvisation workshop for teachers
Initiation to improvisation in elementary and professional music teaching at the conservatoire
Dance improvisation workshop
Musical improvisation and its application in the ballet and contemporary dance class.