Cornerstone 2
Composition and Improvisation
Day 1 Do Now
Unit Goals:
Notes:
The music staff is a system of 5 lines and 4 spaces on which composers place notes and rests when creating a piece of music. Always count the lines and spaces from the bottom.
5
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
Bar lines
Bar lines organize and separate the measures on a staff in a piece of music. The vertical (up and down) lines are the bar lines. A double bar line signals the end of a piece of music. Measures are the spaces between bar lines.
Double bar lines = The End
Measure 1
The Treble Clef
Let’s Practice!
Method 1
Method 2
Exit Ticket
Notate a staff with a treble clef and all of the parts learned today. Label each part and number the line and spaces. There should be 5 measures.
Day 2 Do Now
Pitch/Note Names��Today we will talk about note names. There are 7 letters in the musical alphabet. We’ll look at where they belong on the staff.
What is a mnemonic device? What are some you have heard of or used in other subjects?
Practice
Example: Every Good Bird Does Fly
This is one of several common examples.
Come up with original mnemonic devices for the line and space notes. Notate a staff and the notes. Write your words under each corresponding note. Model your like the one shown below:
Day 3 Do Now
2. Notate a treble clef. Draw the notes on the lines or spaces.
Notes and Rests Duration and Value
Different notes are worth different amounts of beats. Duration is how long the note or rest lasts.
Rests are silent beats, and still count as beats in a measure. Look at your reference sheet. See if you can fill in the note value chart.
Notes and Rests Duration and Value
Notes and Rests Duration and Value
Day 4 Do Now
Look at the symbols. Write each name, tell its duration and notate its corresponding rest.
Time Signatures
Practice rhythms
Time Signature Practice
Day 5 Do Now
Let’s Notate!
2. Compose your own 4 measure melody in ¾ time using the notes C,E,G. USE NOTES AND RESTS! The first and last notes should be middle C.
Melodic Contour
If you had to sing or perform a melody, which one of these would you rather perform and why?
A. B.
Melodic Contour
Yes! Skips are ok too. No. Avoid many leaps.
Peer Review and Feedback
When you have finished, quietly exchange papers with someone at your table. Clap their piece, check for errors. (first and last note middle C, notes C,EG, barlines, Double bar at the end) If you see an error, remember to use positive and constructive feedback. I should hear the following phrases:
Day 6 Do Now
On your staff paper, write 4 measures in 4/4 time, using notes C, E,G and rests. Use your reference sheet to help you. Remember melodic contour rules. FIRST and LAST note MUST be middle C.
Scales- Scale Degrees
We can tell what key a song is in by looking at the first note of the piece and the last note and the key signature. We use scales when writing music. A scale is a sequence of notes, usually an octave. We will continue to use the C major scale. Each note is assigned a number or scale degree. Write these on your reference sheet. Remember, “C” is the strongest note.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8(1)
Cadences- How to end a phrase or piece
5 - 1 Low 7 - 1 7 - 1 (8) 2 - 1
V - I VII - I VII - I II - I
Practice and Feedback
If you see an error remember to use positive and constructive feedback. I should hear the following phrases:
Do Now Day 7
Compose 6 measures in 4/4 time, c major with an appropriate cadence.
**Please note** When notes are on the 3rd line of the staff or higher the stems go down to the left!
Dynamics- How loud or quiet. Volume.
Where are dynamics in the music?
Clap rhythms with dynamics.
Example 1
Example 2
Practice
If you see an error, remember to use positive and constructive feedback. I should hear the following phrases:
Day 8 Do Now
1. ff
2. mf
3. p
4.
Tempo
How fast or slow music should be performed. The speed.
We will use the following website to explore tempo.
http://www.sfskids.org/classic/templates/musicLabF.asp?pageid=11
Where are tempo markings notated in the music?
Day 9 Do Now
Form
Examples
This student explained that their idea was based on how chicken’s move because their family raises chickens. The have small feet and sometimes move quickly and stop. The sixteenth notes represent how chicken feet move quickly and take lots of steps. the eighth and quarter notes represent when the chickens slow down.
Examples
This student explained that their idea was soldiers marching because they like military movies. The first “A” section represents the army going into battle strong and ready. The decrescendo represents them getting quiet so they aren’t seen. The “B” section is the battle, some quick and slow moves. The last A section is marching away from battle.
Composition Project
Improvisation
How?
Start by playing the first and last measure as written and improvise measures 2-3. Stay within your time signature.
Extension