Final for Improv Flashcards
Mirroring:
doing exactly what the client is doing musically, expressively and through body language at the same time as the client is doing it.
Imitating:
This is echoing or reproducing the client response after the response has been completed. (key word echoing!)
Matching:
improvising music that is compatible matches or fits in with the client’s style of playing while maintaining the same tempo, dynamics, texture, quality and complexity of other musical elements. The music must not be identical, but it needs to be the same in style and quality.
Reflecting:
the therapist expresses the same mood or feeling that the client is expressing. The therapist may reflect in the same modality is a client (unimodal) or in a different modality (crossmodal), either during the client’s self-expression or immediately afterwards. The chief modalities of reflection are music, lyrics, verbalization, and movement.
(Application) Mirroring:
The client will then see his or her own behavior in the therapist’s behavior.
(Application) Imitating:
Frequently used as an empathetic techniques where the music therapist intends to give a message to the client that they are meeting them exactly at their level and attempting to achieve synchronicity with the client. (similar to mirroring in that MT plays like SU; the difference is the space between playing)
(Application) Matching:
The client will experience that the music of the therapist fits together or matches their own production. This is a complimentary style of playing together.
(Application) Reflecting:
In musical reflection, the therapist improvises to match moods or feelings that the client is expressing through music (unimodal), body language (crossmodal), or verbalizations (crossmodal). Musical reflection may also include improvising a musical impression of the client’s personality. Also, lyric and verbal reflection. In all cases, reflecting requires the therapist to focus on the client’s feelings in the moment – as they are displayed or expressed by the client in a particular modality. Reflecting also requires the therapist to interpret the feelings underlying the client’s expression and to translate them into impressions in the same or different modality. Reflection is used to promote the client’s emotional self-awareness, to convey acceptance of the client’s actions and feelings, to establish rapport, and to demonstrate empathy and understanding.
Grounding:
Grounding: creating stable music that can act as an ‘anchor’ to the client’s music.
Strong octaves or fifths on the bass of the piano
Steady pulsed beats on the bass drum
Strong chords of a stable total nature using typically dominant and tonic chords
A simple ostinato
Rhythmic Grounding:
providing a basic beat or rhythmic foundation for the client’s improvising. Does not require a meter, but rather pulse.
Tonal Grounding:
providing an octave, fifth or harmonic chord in the base that is congruent with, and totally grounding for, the client’s music.
Harmonic Grounding:
adding the third, this is an extension of tonal grounding but now more harmonies are being used
Holding:
Holding is providing a musical anchor and container for the client’s music making, using rhythmic or tonal techniques. Used when the client’s music is random and without direction
Containing:
is where the client’s music is chaotic and may also be quite loud. (the client therapeutically needs to do this) You provide a container by playing strongly and confidently so that the client can hear you. Your music needs to be structured and has a pattern. Playing at opposite ends of the keyboard with octaves is a containing technique.
Component Improvisation
10 or more musical components: pitch/frequency, tempo/pulse, rhythm, intensity/volume, duration, melody, fermata, pedal, syncopation, harmony, phrasing,
Shows creative and contrasting use of components
Approaches improvisation with confidence and fluency
Has a clear beginning and end
