Activity
Duration Trade-Off
Performer
Published November 10, 2026
John Paul Velez demonstrates a short improvisation exercise designed to help students improvise to understand musical concepts. Originally described by Anne Farber.
Duration Trade-Off
Anne Farber, in Improvisation in the Private Piano Lesson
Teacher and student choose two durations, one to a player. For instance, the teacher plays only {h}s while the student plays only {e}s. When the teacher switches to {e}s, the student must switch to {h}s (or vice versa). This piece benefits from a severely limited tonal scheme.
This activity was revised and adapted from Goal 3, #4. Duration Trade-Off in Improvisation in the Private Piano Lesson by Anne Farber and Sean Hartley.
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Performer
John Paul Velez
John Paul Velez is a pianist, vocalist, and music educator with extensive experience in choral music, improvisation, and movement-based music education. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in 2004 and a Master of Arts in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 2008.
In 2011, John co-authored The Choral Warm-Up: Core Vocal Exercises for Children’s Choir and Treble Voices – High Voice Edition with James Jordan and Marilyn Shenenberger. He has completed training in Kodály and Dalcroze Eurhythmics and studied choral conducting with distinguished educators.
From 2010 to 2024, John coordinated the Westminster Conservatory Honors Music Program’s improvisation program, teaching jazz and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. He currently serves on the Dalcroze Society of America’s publishing committee. Since 2005, John has taught general music and chorus at Littlebrook School in Princeton Public Schools, inspiring students through creative, movement-based musical learning.
Duration Trade-Off
John Paul Velez, Performer
Catalog Information
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Resource ID
9270
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Original Date
November 10, 2026 -
Date Added
November 10, 2026 -
Date Printed
November 12, 2026
About
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Category
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Age
All Ages
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Dalcroze Branch
Improvisation -
Dalcroze Teaching Techniques
Dissociation, Improvisation, Quick Reaction: Aural/Musical
Community & Access
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This is a free resource available to all.
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https://dalcrozeusa.org/resources/duration-trade-off/
About the Author(s)
Performer
John Paul Velez
John Paul Velez is a pianist, vocalist, and music educator with extensive experience in choral music, improvisation, and movement-based music education. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in 2004 and a Master of Arts in Music Education from Teachers College, C…
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