Students who have studied ABA form, through analysis of songs they have performed and pieces they have listened to, might be asked to create an original work in ABA form. Therefore, a good starting place for free improvisation is to ask them to create the background music for a particular mood or scene. Describe the mood or scene and let the music begin naturally. Have students improvise background music for a video segment, such as a short clip from an underwater nature show. Arrange the bars of the solo instruments in chord patterns.
Students create melodies on the appropriate chords as they hear the harmony shift.
Keep chord progressions short and simple, but make each chord last long enough for soloists to have the time to think. Problem solving is the most powerful teaching tool that can be incorporated into music curricula because it allows students to work with musical ideas independently. It is also a means of authentic assessment of student understanding. Electronic media can enhance problem solving opportunities by providing a wider range of possibilities and options for students. They are also powerful motivational tools because of their relevance to the students' lives.