Contemporary music expands instruction at Heights

Heights High violinists Amanda Halaby (L) and Mason Spencer learn improvisational techniques during a master class by visiting Jazz Violinist Christian Howes.

Dan Heim, Heights High orchestra teacher, teaches students to read and play orchestral music, but he also wants them to learn contemporary music. “We want to encourage students to create music spontaneously and creatively,” said Heim. To help teach students to improvise, Heim invited master jazz violinist Christian Howes to lead three master classes that culminated in an informal concert on Nov. 30.

“To improvise, you use what you know,” Howes told the students. “You will use your knowledge of scales, chords, harmony and rhythm.” With those building blocks, students can improvise and play with other musicians in less structured environments.

This emphasis on improvisation is part of the required course of music study in Ohio. When Heim met Howes at an Ohio Music Education Association conference, he knew that Howes’s approach would resonate with students.

Howes brought his electric violin and effects pedals and played jazz, classical, reggae and R&B. He helped students follow a bass line and then join in with a melody. He encouraged the drummer to improvise and create grooves for the group to follow.

At the concert, students practiced improvisation in many different forms. The students spoke enthusiastically about the work and enjoyed trying something new. They were especially drawn to the electric violin. “I want one of those!” said one excited violinist.