Below is a sequence of jazz improvisation strategies to introduce to beginning improvisers over time. It is by no means an exhaustive list! Encourage students to create their own strategies, too. Follow the links above for suggestions about how to introduce strategies to beginners and how to get conversations going around strategies. Follow this link to Sara's MakeMusic Blog post for more detailed descriptions of each strategy.
1. Knowing the head of the tune (know the source material!)
2. "Root note rhythms" (create rhythmic motives/phrases/variations using swung and syncopated patters and root notes)
Add neighbor tones
3. "One bar phrases" (orchestrate rhythmic motives/phrases around the drum kit, as suggested by John Riley in "The Art of Bop Drumming")
4. "Chord tone rhythms" (create rhythmic motives/phrases/variations using swung and syncopated patterns and chord notes)
Add passing tones
5. "Question & answer" (alternately, "call & response"; can be done with a partner as "Trading 4s")
6. "Drum set melody" (orchestrate the head of the tune around the drum kit)
7. Variations on the head of the tune
8. Employing rhythmic variations with strategic use of rests/space, rhythmic displacement, and rhythmic elasticity
9. "Storyline" (creating rhythmic and melodic development, performing with expression, telling a "story" through tension and release)