Lesson by David Cassan

What you'll see in this course

Course for beginners: the octave rule, the essential foundation for developing tonal improvisation skills

The course programme

Improvisation : Grand Jeux

1.1 The octave rule

• introduction
• historical context

1.2 The major scale

• reminder of the chords
• bass harmonisation
• the different inversions
• minor scale

1.3 Harmony

• chord details
• transpositions

1.4 Different versions

• left hand and pedal
• right hand and pedal
• doubled version
• with solo

1.5 Different illustrations

• trumpet bass
• plein jeux
• grand jeux

1.6 Creating a melody

• use of thirds
• rhythms
• details of sequences

1.7 Melody in minor

• pitfalls to avoid

1.8 Cadences

• simple and compound perfect cadences
• double cadences
• interrupted and suspensive cadences

1.9 harmonic progressions

• descending progressions
• progressions by fifths
• ascending progressions

2.1 modulations

• the ‘key’ chord

2.2 another example

• commented example
• where to modulate?

2.3 summary

• plein jeux
• grand jeux

2.4 final example

• italian concerto