spring themes composing project - amazon s3 · pdf file• rain showers • bird nests...

© Copyright Colourful Keys 2017www.vibrantmusicteaching.com


Vibrant Music Teaching

HOW TO USE

•Usewithallstudentsinastudio-wideproject,orjustwithanin-dividualstudentorgroup.•Adapttoeachstudent'slevelbyexploringorignoringthearticula-tion,dynamicandformsuggestions.•Withprereaders,allowthemtonotateintheirownstyle–rewriteforthemonthestaffifnecessary.•Completeeachsectiontogetherinthelesson,orassignashome-workwherepossible.•Encourageyourstudenttotaketheirtimeandtryoutmanydif-ferentoptionsbeforedecidingontheirfinalcomposition.

Optional extra: Recordyourstudents'compositionsandputthemto-getheronastudioCDorsoundcloudpage.

ASSEMBLY

•Printouttheproject(pages2-8).Youwillneedonecopyforeachstudent.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESComposingisafunandinteractivewayforstudentstolearnaboutform,notationandothermusic theory.Astudio-widecomposingproject isalsofantasticforcreatingasenseofcommunityandteamspiritinyourstudio.

Spring Themes Composing Project


• Lambs• Rabbits• Tulips• Cherryblossoms• Daisies• Chicks• Swallows• Sunshine• Blueskies

• Rainshowers• Birdnests• Eastereggs• Birdsong• Butterflies• Raincoats• Worms• Wateringcans• Seeds

• Ladybirds• Bees• Flowerpots• Kites• Sports• Playgrounds• Parks• Dandelions• Rainbows

To get you started, here are some things associated with spring...

There are many more things you could write about! Your piece could be about anything to do with spring!

What theme have you chosen?

Compose a melody to use as your main theme. This should be 4 bars long and reflect your theme. Compose three different options before picking your favourite.

=&==================!==================!==================!==================.

=&==================!==================!==================!==================.

=&==================!==================!==================!==================.


We need some repetition to make a piece sound complete. The main theme you chose above will be “A”. Choose a form for your piece based on your new melody.

ABBA ABAB AABA ABAA

Label the lines on the “Composition in Progress” page and fill in the melody in the ‘A’ sections.

Write a contrasting ‘B’ section melody and fill that in too.

Play through your complete melody a few times. Does it sound too repetitive? If you like, you can vary your themes when they are repeated. Here are some ideas to change a theme the when it’s played again.

• Changesomeofthenotes• Changesomeoftherhythm• Echoitanoctavehigher• Echoitinthebassclef• Reversethedirection(ifitwentupthefirsttime,godownthesecond)

Remember, don’t change it so much that it doesn’t sound like the same tune. Play through the complete melody a few more times to make sure you’re happy with it.


Now it’s time to add some harmony! Think about what type of harmony would go with your melody. Have a look through your music books for more ideas.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Playthemelodyinbothhands• Onehandplaysthemelodyathirdhigherorlower• Onehandplaysthemelodyafifthhigherorlower• Chords• Albertibass• Jumpbass• Openfifths• Brokenchords• Waltzpattern

These are just a few ideas. Try these out, as well as any harmony ideas you find in your books. You can use more than one type of harmony in your piece, but try not to use too many different types or it won’t sound like one piece!

After experimenting, add your favourite harmony to the ‘Composition in Progress’ page.

To finish your piece, you need to add some details to make the music exciting. Think about adding some articulations and ornaments such as:

• Staccatonotes• Slurs• Phraselines• Accentednotes

• Passingtones• Turns• Trills

You also need to decide how fast/slow and loudly/softly you want your piece played. Add tempo marks and dynamics.

• Allegro• Andante• Largo• Vivace

• Crescendo/diminuendo• Forte• Pianissimo• Mezzopiano

Rewrite your piece as neatly as you can on a “Draft Piece” page, and title it.

spring themes composing project - amazon s3 · pdf file• rain showers • bird nests...

Documents