Musical
These games and exercises take improv into the musical realm, incorporating song and dance into our improv scenes.
Bad Rap
Description
- Players stand in a circle and snap, clap, or pat a rhythm.
- Everyone chants together in rhythm: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap.
- The first player raps a line, establishing the rhyming word.
- Everyone chants together between each line.
- The next player raps a line setting up an obvious rhyme for the last word of the previous line but then chooses a non rhyming word to end the line.
- The next player in the circle uses the last word of the previous line to set up an obvious rhyme but then again doesn't go for it.
- Continue the pattern as long as your group likes!
Example
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 1: I sure would like to eat a snack!
- Player 2: (thinking of the rhyme pack) I always stick together with my wolf crew!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 3: (thinking of the rhyme dew) I love the grass in the morning covered in wet!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 4: (thinking of the rhyme debt) I have bag credit because I'm in finance bad!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- etc...
Variations
- Have the next person finish your line with the non-rhyming word.
- Example:
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 1: I sure would like to eat a snack!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
- Player 2: (thinking of the rhyme pack) I always stick together with my wolf...
- Player 3: crew!
- Group: bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap bad rap _ bad rap _ bad rap
Tips
- Try to set up the next person with an easy word to rhyme. Single syllable words are usually safe.
- As soon as you hear the person before you's end word, think of a rhyme, then build up to it and pick a different word at the last second.
- Synonyms are usually the way to ge, but a curveball can be fun too.
Tags
Exercise -
Listening -
Musical -
Party -
Warm Up -
Ping Pong Ballad
Description
- This is a game for two improvisers.
- A volunteer from the audience is invited to sit center stage.
- The two improvisers conduct a brief interview of the audience member. Get their name, family, pets, occupation, hobbies, etc...
- Instruct the audience member that whoever they are looking at during the song has to be singing, they can switch back and forth between who they are looking at as much as they want, and to use and abuse this power.
- The music comes in and who ever is being looked at must serenade the audience member.
- The improviers will need to listen intently while the other is singing so they can continue any lines are are interupted with a switch.
Tips
- If you get switched to mid word or phrase, do your best to finish that word or phrase.
- Use the persons name often. It's a good reset or start of a line or verse.
- Better yet if you can set up rhymes with their name.
Sources
Tags
Audience Participation -
Interview -
Listening -
Musical -
Tagline Song
Description
- A simple tagline is discovered through a scene or suggestion.
- Then the music will come in and the improvisers will sing a song with four parts.
- In a front facing tagline song each verse starts with the Tagline.
- In a back facing tagline song each verse ends with the tagline, so you know before you start what rhyme you need to set up.
Structure
- Tagline Verse
- Tagline Verse
- Bridge that does not include the tagline
- Tagline Verse
- Optionally: repeat the tagline for a big finish!
Tips
- If the tagline ends with an easy rhyme, go for a back facing tagline
- If the tagline seems hard to rhyme with, start your verse with the tagline.
- Other singers can sing the tagline on each verse even if it's not their verse. Especially at the end.
Sources
Tags
Musical -
Song Format -