In improvisation we compose all the time, inventing phrases on the spur of the moment to interact with what is going on around us. In this piece attention is focused on the compositional side of improvisation, isolating it from deliberate interaction, so that each person is working independently on their own musical ideas.

I THE piece starts from relative silence. You, the 'composer', plan what you want to say, composing a particular phrase, and then articulating it on your instrument as precisely as possible. Use any available musical resources - rhythm, dynamics etc.

II PLAY the phrase when ready. After it has been completely formed and finalised in your head.

III DON'T allow other people's phrases to distract you from what you've already planned-to play. Follow your own ideas through.

IV COMPOSE within your technical capabilities on your instrument so that the articulation of your ideas is as clear as possible and could be repeated if necessary.

V YOU can plan to repeat a phrase, as long as this is a positive statement of your composition. rather than laziness!

VI COMPOSE phrase by phrase. Each phrase can exist as a separate composition in its own right, or you may prefer to develop a particular theme or motif during the piece.

CHECK

Inevitably, playing in a group, we are influenced by one another. However, the point of this piece is that, while you may be affected by the sounds around you during the compositional stage, the execution of the phrase must be exactly as it was preconceived, not adapted in any way to fit in with the group. Each phrase must be planned.

RHYTHMIC VERSION

I SELECT a time signature (eg 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 etc) and tempo; having done so you continue playing in it throughout the piece, regardless of what the other players are doing. try to be detached and retain your own independent musical continuity.

II INVENT a phrase within this rhythm. Plan the phrase to take place over a specific number of bars, then leave a predetermined number of bars rest before you enter again. This rest period should be long enough to give time to plan a new phrase.

CHECK

The temptation to 'conform' to the tempos set by other players is strong. Resist it! If necessary, stop playing, compose yourself, and restart. If everyone ends up playing in the same time signature/tempo then restart the whole group.