The music of this game gradually develops whether you believe it or not.
Preparation
If there are many players, this game will require free movement around the playing area. Additional arrangements can be made to proceed with less mobile instruments.
Setup
As a group agree about five stages of musical development and write them down. These should be briefly described as events and will depend on your skill and musical preferences. The best order for defining the stages is: 1 (starting stage), 5 (final stage), 3, 2, 4.
The example below is intentionally exaggerated:
1) Silence
2) Letter 's' spoken
3) Simple and slow sounds of your instrument
4) Soft rock
5) Symphonic death metal
Note that outer levels (1 and 5) should give players some freedom and let them easily stay on that level for an extended amount of time in comparison to the stages in between.
Gameplay instructions
All players start at level 1, and will always follow the instruction for their current level. They use eye contact or walk around to meet in pairs where they have a fight of rock-paper-scissors (you can have a rest in making music at that moment, but generally spend more time playing music than fighting). If the player wins,upgrades to a higher stage of "musical evolution" (from 1 to 2 and so forth) and changes the played music to the one from the according description. If player loses, downgrades, unless at level 1 or at level 5. Ties mean that both players advance.
Game end
The final evolution step means that a player will not downgrade anymore. Now the player has an option to end the game by tagging-out other players (or with gestures). Top-level player should engage in 'duels' if decides to continue the game. The game might end as soon as the first player escapes the evolution or it may continue until all players join at the final level, until someone wants to end it.
Gamemaster's notes
You might need to agree in advance on exact procedure for rock-paper-scissors.
As always try to make everything musical, but here especially together within a pair that you just engaged in a duel (play a duet).
This is an adaptation of a game from improvisational theatre. Here as untied.
Please, do not set a Nirvana piece at the highest level of development ;) (this joke is made here so you don't have to).
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