Point of Departure: A Method for Teaching Improvisation Using Four-Mallet Marimba Literature for the High School Percussionist

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This dissertation introduces a method of melodic improvisation that is designed for the high school percussionist. Teaching improvisation to the modern music student can be challenging, as the concept of creating music spontaneously is unfamiliar to the typical music student. While improvisation techniques exist within jazz education, some students are overwhelmed by the complex harmony and sheer amount of study and practice that is required to improvise within the style of jazz. This dissertation proposes a method of improvising that incorporates commonly known four-mallet marimba repertoire as a point of departure for improvisation. Utilizing ideas from ethnomusicologist Bruno Nettl (b. … continued below

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Siegel, Nathan Elliot July 2024.

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  • Siegel, Nathan Elliot

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This dissertation introduces a method of melodic improvisation that is designed for the high school percussionist. Teaching improvisation to the modern music student can be challenging, as the concept of creating music spontaneously is unfamiliar to the typical music student. While improvisation techniques exist within jazz education, some students are overwhelmed by the complex harmony and sheer amount of study and practice that is required to improvise within the style of jazz. This dissertation proposes a method of improvising that incorporates commonly known four-mallet marimba repertoire as a point of departure for improvisation. Utilizing ideas from ethnomusicologist Bruno Nettl (b. 1930-2020) and music researcher Jeff Pressing (b.1949-2002), I have crafted a pedagogical method for improvising at the marimba that is accessible to the high school percussionist. Five marimba solos are be used as examples in this document and the accompanying lecture recital to demonstrate how this method functions. The goal for this project is to give percussionists an obtainable way to begin improvising at the marimba utilizing music that they are already comfortable playing. It is important to note that when the term "music student" without further specification, I am referring to a high school musician who studies classical music in the United States.

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  • July 2024

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  • Aug. 31, 2024, 11:25 a.m.

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  • Jan. 21, 2026, 12:10 a.m.

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Siegel, Nathan Elliot. Point of Departure: A Method for Teaching Improvisation Using Four-Mallet Marimba Literature for the High School Percussionist, dissertation, July 2024; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2356251/: accessed August 19, 2026), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .

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