Your one-stop resource for incorporating improvisation into your string ensembles
What is Off the Page?
A set of resources for learning eclectic styles for strings, such as backing tracks and teaching tips for improvisational exercises
Who is Off the Page for?
Busy teachers who need some resources
Musicians who want to teach themselves to improvise
When should I use Off the Page?
You could try out a few tracks the day after a concert, or at the end of the schoolyear, when you need something new and refreshing to break the mold
You could plan a whole unit on learning to improvise
Include a tune in one of your concerts! (available fall 2023)
Where can I find Off the Page resources?
Take a look around this website to find everything you need
Alternatively, check out our YouTube page
Or visit our Patreon for extra tracks and resources!
Why improvise?
Improvisation helps connect your ears, mind, and body
Improvisation is included in the list of NAfME national standards
The ability to improvise and comp opens up whole new musical pathways
Explore the benefits of learning to improvise
The connections between hands, ears, and mind are paramount to success as a musician at any level. These pathways and the connections made between them are how performers of all kinds develop timing, intonation, and general musicality. Our intuitive process to begin, develop, and refine improvisational skills reinforces these connections to help build confidence as well-rounded musicians.
No experience improvising? No problem!
Off the Page includes detailed instructor resources on how to introduce these ideas to your students, even if you don’t consider yourself an improviser already. Still not sure? We can meet with you for a 1:1 consult to determine what approaches would be best for your individual ensembles!
Try it out for free and see what you think.
There’s no commitment, pressure, or obligation.