Recommended Reading
One of the best methods I have used through the years to teach basic concepts of music theory has been improvisation. Improvising has proved to be a wonderful tool to help students to learn certain aspects related to theory in a much better and dynamic way.
Harmony and shape are two things that are essential in music, and to be able to create something new we need to learn how these two elements work. Through improvising, I have noticed that students understand how harmony and shape work and at the same time they become better improvisers (and therefore better creative musicians) as they learn these two elements.
During my time at the Guildhall I studied a subject called Interpretation through Improvisation for three years. The Professor in charge of this subject was David Dolan, through whom I gained a totally new way of understanding music making. I have used what I learnt with Mr Dolan with my own students and the results have been very positive!
