Options for Improvising

Herb Henke (1931-2015) inspired many of today’s Dalcroze educators. Here, he guides us in improvisation by suggesting simple but profound changes to a piece of music. After playing the piece as written, try the following versions: Add three flats (b-flat, e-flat, a-flat) to the key signature. The indicated b-naturals, however, should be retained. Create a…

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Lesson Plan: Old Joe Has Gone Fishing

This lesson was presented at the 2012 DSA National Conference at Seattle Pacific University and teaches 7/4 with Benjamin Britten’s “Old Joe Has Gone Fishing” from his opera Peter Grimes. Benjamin Britten wrote this canon as a sort of faux sea chanty/drinking song.  It is charming a capella; when heard in the opera with full…

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