“Striking the Imagination”. A Handbook for Creative Music Lessons

Abstract

"Striking the Imagination” is a handbook designed to promote creativity and imagination when practising, teaching and performing music. Unlike many method books which focus exclusively on technical competence, this book is a compilation of prompts and exercises intended to stimulate thoughts and conversations to encourage musicians to question what they wish to communicate, and how they can express this during performance. Many of these exercises are inspired by historical performance practice and Early Music, with particular regard to historical concepts of Gesture, Rhetoric, Text-Setting, and Improvisation. Using this book will help to foster an imaginative and creative approach to music, which will in turn increase motivation, enjoyment, intention, and understanding, and above all else nurture artistic and expressive facility.