4 STUDY AND PLAY THE CHORDS AND SCALES. The better you know them, the better prepared you will be. Remember that the 3rd and 7th are the most important notes in the chord because they determine the type of chord it is. Know what scale works over the progression. 5 CREATE SHORT RHYTHMIC IDEAS/RIFFS 6 WORK TOWARDS A GOOD SOUND. It doesn’t matter how great your technique and ideas are if it doesn’t sound good. 7 KEEP IT SIMPLE! A strong sense of melody is equally important as flashy technique. 8 USE A VARIETY OF DEVICES. These include repetition, sequences, patterns, quotes from other songs 9 THE SOLO IN REPEATS OF THE PROGRESSION THROUGH A VARIETY OF METHODS. 1st time through simple, then move in subsequent repetitions of the progression to more complex rhythms or add more notes or change registers and so on to create interest. Improvisation Performance Rubric Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 4 Sound quality The improvisation is performed with a limited understanding of good sound quality. The improvisation is performed with some understanding of good sound quality. The improvisation is performed with a considerable understanding of good sound quality. The improvisation is performed with an excellent understanding of good sound quality. thorough Melody The melody is performed with limited note and rhythmic accuracy The melody is performed with some note and rhythmic accuracy The melody is performed with considerable note and rhythmic accuracy The melody is performed with excellent note and rhythmic accuracy Chords The improvisation is performed with limited accuracy in playing chord tones over the changes The improvisation is performed with some accuracy in playing tones over the changes The improvisation is performed with considerable accuracy in playing tones over the changes The improvisation is performed with excellent accuracy in playing tones over the changes Scales The improvisation is performed with limited accuracy in playing appropriate scales over the changes The improvisation is performed with some accuracy in playing appropriate scales over the changes The improvisation is performed with considerable accuracy in playing appropriate scales over the changes The improvisation is performed with excellent accuracy in playing appropriate scales over the changes
Rhythmic ideas/riffs The improvisation has limited evidence of the creation of original rhythmic ideas/riffs The improvisation has some evidence of the creation of original rhythmic The improvisation has considerable evidence of the creation of original rhythmic ideas/riffs The improvisation has extensive evidence of the creation of original rhythmic ideas/riffs Devices including repetition, sequences, patterns and/or quotes The improvisation includes limited use of devices such as repetition, sequences, patterns and/or quotes The improvisation includes some use of devices such as repetition, sequences, patterns and/or quotes The improvisation includes considerable use of devices such as repetition, sequences, patterns and/or quotes The improvisation includes excellent use of devices such as repetition, sequences, patterns and/or quotes Building of the solo The improvisation has limited evidence of building through repeats of the progression The improvisation has some evidence of building through repeats of the progression The improvisation has considerable evidence of building through repeats of the progression The improvisation has extensive evidence of building through repeats of the progression Overall effect of the performance The improvisation is played with limited confidence and command of the performance The improvisation is played with some confidence and command of the performance The improvisation is played with considerable confidence and command of the performance The improvisation is played with excellent confidence and command of the performance