BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
12207 / 18210 · Workshop 98 — The Flexible Arrangement: Fixed Landmarks, Improvised Connective Tissue, Real-Time Decisions, and Playing the Same Arrangement Differently Every Time← prev⊞ allnext →

98.123Flexible arrangement grammar

Think of your arrangement as having rules such as:

  • first statement sparse
  • fills answer melody
  • borrowed iv only at major phrase endings
  • walking begins after first chorus
  • blocks reserved for climax
  • coda recalls intro motif
  • final tonic always thin

These rules generate many possible performances.