Welcome to the Fifth Grade Jazz Improvisation Page

Please right click or ctrl-click on the link below for the accompaniment. Choose "save link-as", "save target as", or "download linked file" to download the music file to your computer.

*** Right click or Ctrl-Click here for jazz accompaniment ***

There is enough time in the accompaniment to play the theme twice and try four solo improvisations (plus the coda at the end). Good luck!

Jazz Improvisation Tips

The tune:

D E F *** F E D *** D E F *** F E D *** E-- E-- E-- F E D

Improvisation Levels:

Level 1 - All one note on the D string (make sure you mix up the rhythms)
Level 2 - D and F natural only
Level 3 - D and F Natural / A and C Natural
Level 4 - Use any of the following: D E F G A B C HighD
Level 5 - Extended octaves and use of other strings (make sure you play all naturals)

Improvisation ideas: Mix these up to make yours more interesting.

Finger slides
Double Stops
Bowing styles: Staccato, Legato, Slurring, Hooked Bows, or Spiccato*
Mix up the rhythms: eighth, quarter, half notes, whole notes, sixteenth*, triplets*
Use rests
Trills
Tremolos
Pizzicato
Quote a part of a song (Twinkle, etc)
Use vibrato on long notes*