21M.355 | Spring 2013 | Undergraduate

Musical Improvisation

Calendar and Videos

Videos are available for selected sessions, as linked in the table below.

Key: 
Lec = Lecture 
Lab = Lab 
Guest = Guest artist lecture / workshop 
Concert = Concert series event

SES # TOPICS AND VIDEO LINKS KEY DATES
Lec 1 Overview and auditions  
Lec 2 Introduction and concepts  
Lec 3 Images and Imagination: Film and John Cage  
Lab 1 Lab 1: Introduction  
Lec 4 Graphic notation and improvisation Assignment 1 due
Guest 1.1 Improvising with film 
Guest artists: Kate Matson and FiLmprov
 
Lab 2 Lab  
Concert 1 Concert series: FiLmprov  
Guest 1.2 Improvising with film 
Guest artists: Kate Matson & FiLmprov
Assignment 2 due
Lec 5 Modes and Forms  
Lab 3 Lab  
Lec 6 “Kind of Blue” (Miles Davis)  
Lec 7 “In a Silent Way” (Miles Davis) Assignment 3 due
Lab 4 Lab  
Concert 2 Concert series: Natraj and Chitravina Ravikiran  
Guest 2.1 Indian classical music 
Guest Lecturer: Phil Scarff and Chitravina Ravikiran
 
Lec 8 Sounds and Processes  
Lab 5 Lab  
Guest 2.2 Indian classical music student demonstrations 
Guest artist: Phil Scarff
Assignment 4 due
Lec 9 Mid-Term Summary  
Lab 6 Lab  
Guest 3.1 Electronics 
Guest artist: Neil Leonard
 
Lec 10 Sounds & Processes  
Lab 7 Lab  
Concert 3 Concert series: Neil Leonard and Robin Eubanks  
Guest 3.2 Electronics student demonstrations 
Guest artist: Neil Leonard
Assignment 5 due
Lec 11 Flexology  
Lab 8 Lab  
Lec 12 Flexology student demonstrations Assignment 6 due
  MIT concert: Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, plus Tom Hall and the 21M.355 class  
Lec 13 Themes and intervals: “Blue Seven” (Sonny Rollins)  
Lec 14 Themes and intervals Assignment 7 due
Lab 9 Lab  
  MIT concert: MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble  
Lec 15 Toward the final project: overview and design  
Guest 4.1 Guest artists: Tim Ray and Eugene Friesen  
Lab 10 Lab  
Concert 4 Concert series: Tre Corda  
Guest 4.2 Guest artists: Tim Ray and Greg Hopkins Assignment 8 due
Lec 16 Preparation for final projects  
Lab 11 Lab  
Lec 17 Final projects Presentations in class
Lec 18 Final projects Presentations in class

Course Info

As Taught In
Spring 2013
Topics
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Videos
Other Video
Projects with Examples
Design Assignments
Written Assignments
Instructor Insights