Activity
Ostinato & Tune Improvisation
Published November 10, 2026
Alex Marthaler demonstrates a short piano improv duet exercise designed to help students improvise to understand musical concepts. Originally described by Anne Farber.
Ostinato & Tune
Anne Farber, in Improvisation in the Private Piano Lesson
Devise an ostinato; one player maintains it while the other player invents a tune. Change roles at midpoint.
In this demonstration, I play the bass part while an older piano student plays the treble part.
- Black key pentatonic (both players)
- In C major, the ostinato uses only the tonic, the tune uses all seven scale-degrees.
- Ostinato uses four tones (D, D-flat, E-flat, F), the tune uses 4 tones (E, F, A, B-flat) with only one note in common. Or the tune has all four notes in common, or none.
This activity was revised and adapted from Goal 3, #1. Ostinato & Tune in Improvisation in the Private Piano Lesson by Anne Farber and Sean Hartley.
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Alex Marthaler
Alex Marthaler is the executive director of the Dalcroze Society of America, where he oversees operations, conferences, publications, fundraising, and strategic initiatives that support the Dalcroze community nationwide. A pianist, composer, and educator based in Pittsburgh, PA, he serves on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University, teaching orchestration, counterpoint, and contemporary composition techniques. Alex is an experienced collaborative pianist specializing in improvisation, dance accompaniment, and ensemble performance, with ongoing work for ballet, theater, and choral organizations. His compositions have been performed by contemporary music and dance ensembles throughout the region. His work centers on creativity, collaboration, embodied musicianship, and providing meaningful musical experiences for learners of all ages.
Ostinato & Tune Improvisation
Alex Marthaler, Performer
About the Author(s)
Alex Marthaler
Alex Marthaler is the executive director of the Dalcroze Society of America, where he oversees operations, conferences, publications, fundraising, and strategic initiatives that support the Dalcroze community nationwide. A pianist, composer, and educator based in Pittsburgh, PA, he serves on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon U…
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