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Sarah Stiles and Free Improvisation

The creation of composer, teacher and performer Sarah Stiles, Free Improvisation is a radical approach to instrumental teaching that strengthens the core values of musicianship and ensemble playing through a flexible, creative approach to style and technique.

Sarah, who studied at the Royal Academy of Music, brings to Free Improvisation the fruits of a varied career that has straddled the worlds of classical, folk, jazz and pop music. Valuing above all the qualities of spontaneous music-making common to all these styles, she has created an approach to playing together that can be combined with traditional teaching methods as an additional tool for learning, or can be used as a source of relaxation and fun in lessons. Because the source of Improvisation lies in each player’s relationship to his or her instrument, it’s as well suited to absolute beginners as to advanced students. How it works in practice in string playing for teachers and pupils is neatly summarised in the introduction to Impro:

‘The method of Free Improvisation is built up in just a few stages, using basic ideas consisting of only a handful of notes, techniques of imitation and question-and answer themes. These can also be developed into more complex patterns, depending not only on the skills of the individual players, but also the broader creative aspects they bring to the mood for their shared improvisations.’

For many students, learning to play without the security of ‘written-out’ music has proved immensely liberating. They quickly take to the idea of building on their own creativity to invent rhythms, pitches and original sounds, thus strengthening their imaginative approach to notated music too. The nine violin duos of Dual Band take Free Improvisation a stage further, and mix improvisatory violin duets with passages composed in Sarah’s own distinctive contemporary idiom, and reflecting her skill at writing for the fiddle, her own instrument. Any violin duo of Grade 3 standard upwards would find much to enjoy in these pieces – in which both advanced and aspiring players can meet on equal terms. Sarah is active in Britain and the continent, promoting Free Improvisation through consultations, composing, teaching and workshops. Details of these activities, and other publications, may be found on her website. She also writes on the subject fo many distinguished international journals. Her own website can be found at http://www.sarahstilesmusic.com.

Impro Free Improvisation in String Playing for String Teachers and Pupils		Dual Band Nine Violin Duos
Impro, an exciting new introduction to improvisation in string playing, is suited to absolute beginners as well as more advanced players. It can be combined with regular teaching methods or used as a source of relaxation and fun in lessons, and all the material is interchangeable between violin, viola, cello and double bass. The skills of free improvisation are built up in stages, using basic ideas and progressing to more complex patterns. There are guidelines all the way, plus duets with improvisation for teacher and pupil - and any other string players wishing to enjoy this lively and original style of music-making!		Something of a first in violin music, Dual Band features nine exciting violin duets that also offer nine exciting routes to creative improvisation. Through special IMPRO sections, players are encouraged to explore every aspect of the instrument as a means to open-minded music-making, carefully set within the formal framework of individual pieces. Titles include A Thought, Transquil, On the Up, Laid Back and Silence. Copious notes give start-up advice to players of whatever age or standard, from intermediate grade upwards, who are approaching improvisation for the first time.
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