Synonyms
Make A Song.
Introduction
The performer will make a song about the topic of your choosing.
Description
A performer will create a song based on an audience offer. While the structure seems completely self explanatory there are lots of tips and tricks that can be used create a successful song. The performer need not have a musical theatre voice. Most audiences will be right behind the performer who appears to have been burdened with the challenge of singing in front of strangers. Every house has different resources and Make A Song can be a cappella or accompanied by a live band. Some houses will have canned music that the performer will “karaoke” along with. Canned music is the least appealing of the approaches. Repeat audience members will quickly become tired of canned karaoke.
What makes a song? Anything can be a song. The kind of song we are covering here is a typical pop song with stanzas and choruses. The more music training the performers have the more elaborate the song can become. Learn Improv is taking a simple approach with language that can be understood by non-musicians. The accompanist is an improviser as much as the other performers are. The accompanist will not be playing a set song that the performer is singing along with. This would be similar to canned karaoke. Again, there is nothing wrong with canned karaoke.
The accompanist and the performer must negotiate a common starting note. Usually the accompanist will start with a musical offer that the performer will harmonize with and start the song. Below is an example of a most basic approach to an improvised song. Learn Improv recommends a A-A, B-B, chorus format for the song. For example,
- “I am a very happy turnip living in the dirt” -A
- “I am built real tough and can’t get hurt” – A
- “My peel is strong and I’m buried deep” – B
- “I ain’t afraid of that farmer creep” – B
- “I am a very happy turnip living in the dirt” -chorus
- “I am built real tough and can’t get hurt” – chorus
- “Farmer Leslie has bunch of vegans to feed” – A
- “They are all growin’ fast and have caloric needs” – A
- “Potatoes for breakfast lunch and snacks” – B
- “Farmer Leslie’s taking a different tack” -B
- “He’s gonna get his kids a veggie that’s hip” – C
- “He’s gonna go get that big turnip” – C
- “I am a very happy turnip living in the dirt” -chorus
- “I am built real tough and can’t get hurt” – chorus
- Etc. Until a story is told.
If it is a one performer song other performers could join in on the chorus. The song could be sung by multiple performer each supplying different couplets (A-A, B-B, C-C). Also a duet could be done where each performer supplies half the couplet. There is no mention of back up singers here, but they are encouraged if it can be done right. One performer sings the first A another sings the second A. Rhymes are fun, but they are not essential. Cadence in probably more important.
Gimmicks
- Never actually sing, just talk about singing or be just about ready to sing.
Variations
- Too many.
Credits
- Information appreciated.