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How to Improvise a Melody in A Minor

From Hoffman Academy

How to Improvise a Melody in A Minor
10 minPre-KK1st2ndMusic
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Summary

In “How to Improvise a Melody in A Minor,” Joseph Hoffman walks students through how to make up their own music at the keyboard. A 10-minute lesson from Hoffman Academy's free elementary piano curriculum — drop it into a music center, a keyboard station, or a whole-class music block.

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All ages
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Teaching resources

Discussion questions

Discussion

Improvising means making up music as you go. This lesson shows one easy way to start.

  1. What does it mean to *improvise* in music?
  2. Which notes or keys does this lesson let you use to improvise?
  3. How is improvising different from playing a piece exactly as written?

Quick work-a-long

Vocabulary: improvise, melody, rhythm.

Try it: Using only the keys from the lesson, make up a short tune. Play it twice — change one thing the second time.

How to Improvise a Melody in A Minor — TV on a Rolling Cart