Abstract
The purpose of this article is to present the idea that the music education profession's current drive to include improvisation in school music is limited in its approach, and that teaching improvisation, in the traditional sense, is not possible. These beliefs are based on an examination of current methodologies and texts in light of the historical evolution of both improvisation and the teaching of improvisation. The article provides an examination of Jeff Pressing's historical conceptions of improvisation as a continuum model and then briefly looks at the short history of improvisation in American music education in the 20th century. Current methods are examined in light of free improvisation techniques. This leads to a final argument for more free improvisation in school music balanced with the current skills approach used in the USA. The conclusion of this article examines the issues and realities for current practices in music education in light of the beliefs set forth.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 285-299 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | International Journal of Music Education |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2009 |
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Keywords
- Creative music education
- Free improvisation
- Improvisation
- Jazz
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- Music
Cite this
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Can improvisation be 'taught'? A call for free improvisation in our schools. / Hickey, Maud Mary.
In: International Journal of Music Education, Vol. 27, No. 4, 01.11.2009, p. 285-299.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Can improvisation be 'taught'?
T2 - A call for free improvisation in our schools
AU - Hickey, Maud Mary
PY - 2009/11/1
Y1 - 2009/11/1
N2 - The purpose of this article is to present the idea that the music education profession's current drive to include improvisation in school music is limited in its approach, and that teaching improvisation, in the traditional sense, is not possible. These beliefs are based on an examination of current methodologies and texts in light of the historical evolution of both improvisation and the teaching of improvisation. The article provides an examination of Jeff Pressing's historical conceptions of improvisation as a continuum model and then briefly looks at the short history of improvisation in American music education in the 20th century. Current methods are examined in light of free improvisation techniques. This leads to a final argument for more free improvisation in school music balanced with the current skills approach used in the USA. The conclusion of this article examines the issues and realities for current practices in music education in light of the beliefs set forth.
AB - The purpose of this article is to present the idea that the music education profession's current drive to include improvisation in school music is limited in its approach, and that teaching improvisation, in the traditional sense, is not possible. These beliefs are based on an examination of current methodologies and texts in light of the historical evolution of both improvisation and the teaching of improvisation. The article provides an examination of Jeff Pressing's historical conceptions of improvisation as a continuum model and then briefly looks at the short history of improvisation in American music education in the 20th century. Current methods are examined in light of free improvisation techniques. This leads to a final argument for more free improvisation in school music balanced with the current skills approach used in the USA. The conclusion of this article examines the issues and realities for current practices in music education in light of the beliefs set forth.
KW - Creative music education
KW - Free improvisation
KW - Improvisation
KW - Jazz
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77949463933&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77949463933&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0255761409345442
DO - 10.1177/0255761409345442
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77949463933
VL - 27
SP - 285
EP - 299
JO - International Journal of Music Education
JF - International Journal of Music Education
SN - 0255-7614
IS - 4
ER -