ARRANGE GAME

The Arrange Game (AGame) allows performers of differing levels to improvise music or act together as a large group. Plain descriptions in words are used to inspire variation along the suggested characteristics of improvised themes. Also the actions of improvisation are described. Using a poster-sized graph, an outline can be sketched immediately before playing, the choices made by consensus or solo. Rather than another form of notation, how to carry out the words suggested are used as a loose form and points of inspiration, as comedy improvisation games are designed to be played. Alternately, the terms from AGame can be used to discuss arranging without the graphic outline. In endless variation, the same AGame can be reused as a template, resulting in a new “variation along a theme” improvisational music or performance style.

The buttons along the top contain the destructions about the many ways that you can make and use the Arrange Game for your own purposes.

The first button at the top is called “Action.” This will show you how you can describe a piece of music or theater performance as if it were a story. Stories have beginning, middles and endings just like pieces of music do. Players assume roles in the story. The same person might wear multiple hats as they carry out stages of roles they are playing in the piece. You’ll see the sense in making a separation between the piece itself and suggesting ways to carry it out as you read on.

This structure of describing the story becomes one piece of the action in a graph that directs action – without specifying how it is to be carried out. Of course, this is what is improvised. Something like this graph can be made just prior to making music so everyone is on the same page of what is going on during the piece. It's structured like a sentence – This many...of what instruments... are acting in the piece.. how they are doing it...remembering this part of what has gone before...for how long...until this signal.

Not all of these factors are necessary to use. They are all optional. Just having a way to talk about a general outline of what your piece is doing is often enough for people to find useful.

The next button on the top, (marked “interact”) gives terms to what players and performers do when they improvise. These terms were made to be more general & short for practical reasons. Of course you can use other musical terms familiar to you if you want, but terms do not exist to describe much of what goes on during improvising. This will also give you examples of outlines that people have filled out.

Then the last button, named “Yours” contains an empty graph that you can copy and use yourself.

Finally, the button that is named: “Dream of Origin” is an account of the original story dreamed while asleep. This is the story that inspired this structure for improvising.

Hope that you enjoy and use this brand new invention! Please tell me what you think of it and give suggestions for it's improvement!