BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
12426 / 18210 · Workshop 99 — Accompanying Another Musician: Following a Singer, Leading Without Controlling, Recovering from Unexpected Changes, and Making the Piano Behave Like a Listening Partner← prev⊞ allnext →

99.152Mini-project — singer unpredictability simulation

Record yourself singing a familiar public-domain tune such as “Happy Birthday,” but deliberately:

  • delay one phrase
  • repeat another
  • hold one note extra
  • sing one phrase softer
  • speed one phrase slightly
  • add a false ending

Wait until you no longer remember exact deviations.

Then accompany your recording.

Your task is not to reproduce your planned arrangement.

Your task is to listen.