The Improvisation Calendar

title	The Improvisation Calendar
subtitle	with 52 improvisations for any instrument
composer	Wil Offermans
category	score for improvisation
publisher	Zimmermann, Frankfurt
number	ZM 31950
year	1996
instruments	any instrument, voice, etc.
duration	ad lib.
language	introduction in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch and Japanese
score	52 score pages
notes	- a nice decoration to hang at the wall - a lesson-material to learn improvising in an enjoyable way

Imagine! For each week of the year The Improvisation Calendar provides an exciting and enjoyable illustration which can be used as an starting-point for an improvisation. These illustrations are written in a graphic notation, a variation of the traditional music notation or with an image expressing a specific impression, atmosphere or feeling.

Hang the calendar on the wall at home so you can look at it during the week and image the right atmosphere of your improvisation. Once a week turn the page and try a next piece. The calendar also can be used as a lesson material to develop improvisation.

"I have to tell you about a GREAT flute book in case you haven't seen it yet. Today one of my 5th grade students (that's about age 9-10 in the States) brought his friend to a flute lesson so they could work on duets together. It became clear right away that the other boy was NOT very advanced technically. Furthermore, he had a super-short attention span. (Uh oh!).

So we worked for a little while playing duets and trios, using Trevor Wye's EXCELLENT "Flute Class" book. The kids really enjoyed the easier pieces, especially the Susato and Purcell. But I knew we weren't going to last a full hour! Their ability levels were too different, and I knew that the stronger student would get impatient, and the less-advanced student would start losing his already-limited focus. What now?

So I went to my bookshelf and got Wil Offermans' "Improvisations-Kalender." I opened it up to the first page and said, "Ok, kids, play it!" They looked stunned...because the first page shows only an ascending arrow!

I said, "Hey, guys, there are NO wrong notes...listen to this!" I played an improvised ascending line, and they quickly caught on. Soon they were improving arrows, curvy lines, zig-zags, smiley and sad faces, and even a tornado! We experimented with headjoints only, making "air sounds" without pitch, using key clicks, singing and playing, and a myriad of other contemporary techniques. They kept saying, "Oh, try this!" and "what would happen if we did this?"

Along the way, something amazing happened. Both boys started asking HOW to play certain pitches (low C, for example) and techniques in order to improve their improvisation! In other words, they were having so much fun they didn't even realize they were learning something new! My student's friend was amazed to discover that rolling in/out changes the pitch and the tone. What a fun way to teach these concepts! Even better, the "swing the flute around, interrupt the lesson, run around the room, and argue with the friend" behavior stopped. Entirely. Instead, I had two energetic boys completely focused on creative music-making for a full half hour.

If you're looking for something different for your students (or for yourself, for that matter), this is a great resource to consider. And the best part is -- there are no wrong notes!"

– Dr. Shelley Collins - Flute Studies, Department of Music, Seattle Pacific University - www.shelleycollins.com