Learning improvisation through play

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Other games and teaching materials for learning to improvise

Tonic. The Music Improvisation Card Game
  • Improvisation game with drawing cards.
  • A free downloadable PDF version of the game is available in English and French.
  • A commercial version is also available.
Improvisation strategies (PDF, in French)
  • List of improvisation strategies developed by Jean-Philippe Després.

Theoretical and scientific references

  • Boller, S., et Kapp, K. (2017). Play to learn: Everything you need to know about designing effective learning games. Association for talent development.
  • Després, J.-P. (2017a). Processus d’apprentissage et de création des improvisateurs experts en musique classique. Revue musicale OICRM, 4(1), 67‑85. https://doi.org/10.7202/1040300ar
  • Després, J.-P. (2017b). Processus d’apprentissage et de création des improvisateurs experts en musique classique [thèse de doctorat, Université Laval]. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/27566
  • Després, J.-P., Burnard, P., Dubé, F. et Stévance, S. (2016). Expert improvisers in Western classical music learning pathways. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 22, 167‑179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2016.10.006
  • Després, J.-P., Burnard, P., Dubé, F. et Stévance, S. (2017). Expert Western Classical Music Improvisers’ Strategies. Journal of Research in Music Education, 65(2), 139‑162. https://doi-org.acces.bibl.ulaval.ca/10.1177/0022429417710777
  • Easterday, M. W., Lewis, D. R., et Gerber, E. M. (2014). Design-based research process: Problems, phases, and applications. Boulder, CO: International Society of the Learning Sciences.
  • Kratus, J. (1991). Growing with improvisation. Music Educators Journal, 78(4), 36‑40.
  • Kratus, J. (1995). A Developmental Approach to Teaching Music Improvisation. International Journal of Music Education, 26(1), 27‑38. https://doi.org/10.1177/025576149502600103