ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how thoroughbass can be used to teach improvisation in second-year tonal harmony and upper-level eighteenth-century counterpoint classes in a conservatory setting. The chapter proposes the exercises that would help to advance this goal are somewhat detached from the actual experience of the classroom. Although based in part on the author's practice as a teacher, they favor the more theoretical side of realizing figured basses, focusing more on principles rather than actual pedagogical situations. Finally, it directs the his pedagogical efforts to music students who have had at least 1 to 2 years of tonal harmony, which would include exposure to figured bass, and an introduction to species counterpoint. These students, moreover, should be proficient on an instrument, possess some elementary keyboard skills, and have some familiarity with music history and style. For an excellent example of the different types of keyboard figurations that one could devise while improvising over a ground bass.
