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Group Playing by Ear in Higher Education: the processes that support imitation, invention and group improvisation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2017

Maria Varvarigou
Maria Varvarigou*
Affiliation:
Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UKmaria.varvarigou@canterbury.ac.uk
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Abstract

This article explores how group playing by ear (GEP) through imitation of recorded material and opportunities for inventive work during peer interaction was used to support first year undergraduate western classical music students’ aural, group creativity and improvisation skills. The framework that emerged from the analysis of the data describes two routes taken by the students, whilst progressing from GEP to group improvisation and it is compared to Priest's (1989) model on playing by ear through imitation and invention. The article concludes with suggestion on how these two routes could be used to scaffold the development of western classical musicians’ improvisation skills.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Music Education , Volume 34 , Issue 3 , November 2017 , pp. 291 - 304
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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