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Pattern Play Sampler

The document provides an overview of the Pattern Play method for improvising music at the piano. It describes how each piece in the Pattern Play books is presented in a four-page layout that guides both students and teachers through an improvisational duet, solo playing, and expanding to trios or quartets. The method uses repeating patterns and variations that allow players to freely create melodies and experience the joy of musical conversation and creativity.

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Steven Rojas
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2K views

Pattern Play Sampler

The document provides an overview of the Pattern Play method for improvising music at the piano. It describes how each piece in the Pattern Play books is presented in a four-page layout that guides both students and teachers through an improvisational duet, solo playing, and expanding to trios or quartets. The method uses repeating patterns and variations that allow players to freely create melodies and experience the joy of musical conversation and creativity.

Uploaded by

Steven Rojas
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pattern Play

Inspiring Creativity at the Piano


Akiko & Forrest Kinney
I believe that for the rst time my students and I are not merely reciting notes, but really creating music.
Gena Horiatis, music educator

TM

We improvise new sentences each day. Why not melodies and rhythms?
We are uent speakers because others talked with us for many years. The Pattern PlayTM books give teachers and students a way to have musical conversations (duets), which lead to the ability to improvise solos with condence and ease. Teachers can add a creative dimension to group classes since most of the pieces in the Pattern PlayTM books can be played as trios or quartets. Both teachers and students learn what they need to know by playing and creating with rich, quick-to-learn musical materials. Even beginners can have a rewarding musical experience at the piano.

u THE FIRSt PAGE


All of the pieces in the Pattern PlayTM series are presented in the same four-page layout. When you understand how to play one piece, you understand how to play them all! Every piece begins with a duet. The rst page provides the Bass player (usually the teacher) with the materials for making a repeating accompaniment that creates a rich, supportive environment in which the student feels invited to create melodies. This is not only an enjoyable activity in itself, but the student is gently led into solo playing. Lets look at Reecting, a favorite piece of many students and teachers.

Duet (Bass)

Reecting
Imagine a mirror that reects feelings we can hear rather than images we can see. That is what music is. Music reects feelings rather than appearancesinteriors rather than exteriorsand sounds out what is hidden deep within us. As your partners melodies oat through the sky, let this PATTERN be a calm lake reecting them.

PAttERN
In each piece, the Bass person plays a short accompaniment called a PATTERN, repeating it many times and letting it vary in response to the Treble players melodies. Repeat signs in these books mean to repeat as many times as you like.

PATTERN

VACAtION
There is also a contrasting accompaniment called a VACATION. The Bass player moves between the PATTERN and VACATION many times to create a satisfying longer form.

VACATION

VARIAtIONS
Many pages have Variations which are examples of ways that the PATTERNS and VACATIONS might vary as you repeat them.

Variation

IDEAS fOR CREAtING


Each page has additional suggestions of ways to create music with the PATTERN and VACATION. On this page, the Bass player is encouraged to create counter-melodies.

Ideas for Creating


You can add melodies with your right hand using white keys.

24

ReectingDuet (Bass)

u THE SECOND PAGE


The second page of each piece is for the Treble player (usually the student), who is invited to improvise melodies in the rich environment provided by the Bass player. Once Treble players can create freely, they are ready to begin learning how to accompany themselves. Though the Bass parts are often too challenging for beginners, even rst-lesson students can improvise melodies with their teacher.

Duet (Treble)

Calm waters give true reections.

The image and accompanying words on the second page are there to stimulate the imagination and stir up feelings.

Melody
Create melodies in A minor. Use one or both hands.

MELODY
The Treble player is given the notes of a scale to create with. The keyboard graphic is for beginners who cant yet read.

A minor

Ideas for Creating


Explore the sounds of sixths, thirds, fourths, and other hand shapes.

IDEAS fOR CREAtING


These suggestions are now about making melodies things to try and sounds to explore.

When a new scale or chord is introduced a short section titled Music Theory that explores and explains the new musical materials is included. This page didnt need it.

ReectingDuet (Treble)

25

u THE THIRD PAGE


The third page of each piece explores ways that a person can improvise as a soloist. After playing both parts of the duet, some students will be ready for this next step almost immediately, while others may wish to spend more time with a partner. Everyone is different!

Solo
With your right hand, improvise melodies on white keys (A minor) above these accompaniments. In addition to playing single tones, explore sixths, thirds, and other hand shapes.

PAttERN

AND

VACAtION

PATTERN

VACATION

Here, the PATTERN and VACATION of Reecting are written as a left-hand part to be played by the soloist.
You may wish to begin by playing these simple fths in your left hand rather than what is written above. Start by playing sixths with your right hand.

VARIAtIONS
These Variations suggest ways that the solo version of the PATTERN might change as it is repeated.

Variations
PATTERNS reect our feelings and our growth as musicians, so they will naturally want to change over time.

IDEAS fOR CREAtING


The Ideas for Creating now relate to the solo experience. Here, the melody is played in sixths.

Ideas for Creating

26

ReectingSolo

u THE FOURtH PAGE


The fourth page of each piece either explores more ideas for the soloist or reveals how to play the PATTERN as a trio (on one piano) or quartet (on two). Heres the fourth page of another popular piece in Pattern PlayTM 1, Blues on Black. Note that the Middle and Bass players can choose to play either a simple PATTERN and VACATION (a good place to begin) or a more challenging 12-Bar Blues Pattern.

Trio or Quartet
TREBLE
The Treble player is given a scale with which to make melodies. In a quartet, two Treble players take turns making melodies.
First decide whether the three of you will be playing just the PATTERN and VACATION or the full 12-Bar Blues PATTERN. The Bass player starts, the Middle person joins in, then the Treble person makes melodies. Create quartets on two pianos by having the two Treble players alternate playing melodies. Treble Improvise with black keys and A n s. Together these make the E b blues scale.

MIDDLE
The Middle person adds harmony and rhythm by playing these pairs of notes in various rhythms.

Eb blues
Middle Vary the rhythms of these notes in response to the Treble players and Bass lines.

PATTERN

VACATION

OR

12-Bar Blues PATTERN


You can play just the two lower notes, or all three for a fuller sound.

BASS
The Bass person plays a bass line with one or both hands. He or she is encouraged to vary the rhythms of the notes, but not the beat!

Bass Vary the way you play the four notes in each bar, but dont lose the beat! Feel free to use both hands. When playing the PATTERN and VACATION, signal to the Middle person when you are ready to change to the VACATION and when you return to the PATTERN. If you choose to play the 12-Bar Blues PATTERN, then its not necessary to signal.

PATTERN

VACATION

12-Bar Blues PATTERN

OR

Blues on BlackTrio or Quartet

11

Music is feeling, not sound.


Wallace Stevens, poet
The Pattern PlayTM books are about more than improvisation and the foundations of music composition . In essence, they are about rediscovering the refreshing beauty of music by allowing it to ow from our feelings and be different every time. Since we can learn the PATTERNS quickly and begin playing with them immediately, we are given a way to make music that is guided directly by our intuition, allowing us to experience both creativity and artistry. Because the PATTERNS can be varied endlessly, both beginning and advanced pianists will nd that their favorite PATTERNS will keep growing along with them, becoming dear and trusted friends over the course of a long, creative life. Pattern PlayTM 1 Explore world-music (African, Persian, and Irish),
Improvise on all black keys and all white keys Improvise using major, minor, and blues scales Create music with intervals and triads
classical, and popular styles

Pattern PlayTM 2 Explore world-music (Japanese, Spanish, Caribbean),


Medieval, classical, jazz, and blues styles

Improvise using modes (Dorian, Lydian, etc.) Create music with seventh chords Create accompaniment patterns with intervals
and triads

As a classically trained musician, it seemed to me that playing without written music was a skill always beyond my reach. Pattern PlayTM has enabled me to improvise with freedom and creativity. Bonnie Hampton, piano teacher and performer

Pattern PlayTM 3 Explore world-music (Brazilian), classical, jazz,


Improvise using scales and modes with one at Create music with triads and 7th and 9th chords
and the major blues scale boogie, blues, and popular styles

Pattern PlayTM 4 Explore moods and imagery in music Improvise using scales and modes with one and
Create music with triads and 7th, 9th, 13th, sus, and
diminished chords two sharps

Pattern PlayTM 5 Explore moods and modes of key signatures with


Improvise in various keys within the same piece Create your own PATTERNS and VACATIONS
The authors would like to thank Dr. Andrew Hisey for his many helpful suggestions.
two sharps or ats

The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited Canada: Unit 1, 5865 McLaughlin Rd., Mississauga ON L5R 1B8 USA: Suite 882, 60 Industrial Parkway, Cheektowaga NY 14227 Tel: 905-501-1595 Toll-free: 1-800-387-4013 Fax: 905-501-0929

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