MEET THE JAZZ: Improvisation at school

The lessons-concerts are intended to introduce students to improvisation through live musical examples drawn from the vast jazz repertoire and shared melodically with the voice - call and response - and rhythmically - body percussion - making learning interactive and shared.At the same time, the evolution of jazz language is traced from its African/American origins (blues, ragtime, dixieland) to more recent experiences, based on the different cultures with which jazz has come into contact (Latin jazz, salsa, funky, contemporary classical music, world music). In particular, the melodic and rhythmic characteristics of jazz are analysed from which the most popular music listened to by young people, such as hip hop and rap, are derived. These are colours and inflections that belong to the cultural ear of children, often unconsciously and passively.

The aim of the project is therefore, to provide tools for orienting musical tastes and listening with greater critical awareness. Improvisation è understood as a tool for listening, relating, active learning, connecting knowledge, skills and soft skills. A “doing that invents the way of doing while you are doing” (Luigi Pareyson), but not only. A creative doing that orients all students in music and with music offers a different way to face the challenges of school and life, and thus to grow with autonomy and creativity.

Improvisation is not just a musical practice, but a way of life. It means being able to choose and select different knowledge and skills to tackle and solve problems. It generates skills. This is done cooperatively, together with others, teaching people to take a step backwards, but also promoting their protagonism within a group to gain confidence and security in their own abilities. 

The project envisages, for the schools involved, a moment of restitution through specific interventions by CDpM experts during the months of April and May, to be agreed upon at a later date.