Free to Be Musical

Free to Be Musical: Group Improvisation in Music is for those who lead musical experiences in the lives of children, youth, and adults. Offering a set of experiences to inspire creative musical expression, this book will prove useful for music education majors, practicing music teachers, community musicians, and music therapists alike.

Free to Be Musical: Group Improvisation in Music is for those who lead musical experiences in the lives of children, youth, and adults. Offering a set of experiences to inspire creative musical expression, this book will prove useful for music education majors, practicing music teachers, community musicians, and music therapists alike. The experiences (or 'events') are designed to reduce the musical barriers that Western societies pass on to children by the time they reach the 'age of reason,' when the natural childhood penchant to sing, dance, and play musically gives way to perfect performances of standard repertoire preserved in Western staff notation. The authors present ways to encourage music that is expressive and inventive, spontaneous yet thoughtful, communal and collaborative, and unlimited in its potential to bring fulfillment to those who make it. You'll find opportunities to release the musical imagination in ways that are free and expansive, playful and instructive, personal and interpersonal. Higgins and Campbell have created a context that validates the experiments and explorations of all people who are potential makers of all styles of music. Their musical events embrace the belief that music-making is 'a trail of no mistakes,' a celebration of the many and varied musical pathways that both teacher and student can take.

Part 1 Foreword
Part 2 I. Orientations
Chapter 3 Context
Chapter 4 Event
Chapter 5 Workshop
Chapter 6 Facilitation
Chapter 7 Toolkit
Chapter 8 Play and Participation
Chapter 9 Welcome
Chapter 10 Safe Space
Chapter 11 "Let the Wild Rumpus Begin" - Preparation
Chapter 12 Prior to Launch
Part 13 II. Events
Chapter 14 Badge of Identity
Chapter 15 Be Free
Chapter 16 Blues
Chapter 17 Building Blocks
Chapter 18 Clapping Community
Chapter 19 Criss Cross Rhythm
Chapter 20 Dig a Dum
Chapter 21 Drone on
Chapter 22 Ensemble
Chapter 23 Journey
Chapter 24 Keep Breathing
Chapter 25 Keep Moving
Chapter 26 Muscal Realizations of Art
Chapter 27 On Becoming a Character
Chapter 28 Pentagroove
Chapter 29 Poeting-Musicking
Chapter 30 Rhythmic Chairs
Chapter 31 Riff Around
Chapter 32 Sending It Home
Chapter 33 Signs
Chapter 34 Sonic-Sphere
Part 35 III. Connectives