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This lesson is all about “question and answer” (sometimes called “call and response”). Instead of copying the same rhythm back, you can make up your own rhythm that responds to it but doesn’t repeat it.
Below you’ll hear Andy and James doing this. Listen carefully to pick up some ideas. How does James’ respond to Andy’s tune? How are his responses different, and how are they related?
Now its your turn!
Musical Conversations Much like a conversation using words, when someone asks a question, your answer may be a surprise! Or it may be reassuring. But unless you're being completely random, the answer always relates to the question. Similarly in the game of musical question and answer, your answers might not be completely random, but may include little hints of the question as well as something different. Have a go and create some answers to Andy's questions in the video below. You might want to try this several times, as you'll relax and get into the flow of the music once you stop worrying about whether you've got the answer "right"! Improvisation isn't about right and wrong, but you can develop your own style, whilst also developing the quality of how you see the connections between question and answer....