Improv Exchange #7

The canon “ii-V-I” is a canon by Paul Hille that provides a rich source for improvisation classes on three levels: physical, vocal, and instrumental. 

It is written in 6/4, which is used infrequently, and explores different ways to construct a melody based on this fundamental chord progression. We can build an improvisation class focusing on the voice and body or piano improvisation.

As follows, I present a few ideas to be developed and adapted to specific teaching-learning contexts.

ii-V-I Canon

Paul Hille

Ideas for Vocal and Body Improvisation

1. Students learn the song by memory and sing it several times with note names while the teacher harmonizes it at the piano.
2. Students recognize chord names and functions within the melody, proposing a gesture or shape for each chord (a total of 3 shapes/gestures).
3. The group is divided into 4 teams corresponding to the 4 parts of the canon.
   • Sing the melody progressively in 2, 3, and 4 parts, incorporating the body shapes .
4. Students freely improvise melodies following the progression of the melody.
5. Repeat the same steps as before, but with new original improvised melodies.

Ideas for 4-Hand Piano Improvisation

1. Students learn the song by memory and sing it several times with note names while the teacher harmonizes it at the piano.
2. Students recognize chord names and functions within the melody.
3. A pair of students sit at the piano:
   • Soprano part: plays the original melody
   • Bass part: plays bass notes of the chord progression
   • Then change roles.
4. Both students improvise a set of variations on the original tune together.
   • Each student plays one phrase, alternating melody and accompaniment with each other.
5. Both students improvise a two-part canon, maintaining the length of the original melody and chord progression.
   • Then change to minor mode.