Jon Armstrong
Getting Your Ensemble to Groove
In any ensemble, it is essential to establish a groove. Often as musical directors, we get bogged down in the minutiae of teaching correct notes, forms, and rhythms. However, if the musicians don't feel the music in the same way, none of those details will come through. As a professional musician in Los Angeles, I have been exposed to countless strategies that help musical ensembles get in groove. I'd be honored to share these experiences and techniques with any ensemble.
Improvisation Workshop
Improvisation is one of the toughest subjects to teach, especially to young adolescent musicians who often have reservations about "making it up on the spot." In this workshop, I will come in and work on breaking the barrier that stands in the way of most young improvisers by engaging their ear and natural creativity.
State Standards
These presentations meet the following state education standards for high school students:
Music: Harmonizing Instruments
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
MU:Cr1.1.H.IIIa Generate melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic ideas for a collection of compositions (representing a variety of forms and styles ), improvisations in several different styles , and stylistically appropriate harmonizations for given melodies.
Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
MU:Cr3.1.H.IIIa Develop and apply criteria to critique, improve, and refine drafts of compositions (representing a variety of forms and styles ), improvisations in a variety of styles , and stylistically appropriate harmonizations for given melodies.
Anchor Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
MU:Pr5.1.H.IIIa Develop and apply criteria, including feedback from multiple sources , to critique varied programs of music repertoire (melodies, repertoire pieces, stylistically appropriate accompaniments, improvisations in a variety of contrasting styles ) selected for individual and small group performance, and create rehearsal strategies to address performance challenges and refine the performances.
Music: Traditional and Emerging Ensembles
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
MU:Cr1.1.E.IIIa Compose and improvise musical ideas for a variety of purposes and contexts