a set of instructions that outline the purpose, style and requirements of a composition that you must respond to in your work

the tune, usually the most memorable feature in a piece of music

a series of chords played in a particular order that forms the harmonic basis of a piece

Brief 1 musical starting point

British English CC

Brief 2 musical starting point

Purpose, style and a musical starting point

Music

Genre specific considerations

Extending a musical idea

Structure and bigger picture ideas

Refining and developing musical ideas

This following unit will look at how to extend composition ideas to complete the brief composition

This unit leads on from the composition units in year 10, building on skills gained and applying them to a brief composition

This unit introduces composing to a brief and explores how to generate effective musical starting points. Pupils consider ideas such as melodies, riffs, chord sequences and bass lines, alongside stylistic conventions, before applying these approaches to begin developing their own composition.

Composing to a brief: creative starting points

Which of the following is a suitable musical starting point?

Why is it important to consider the brief when starting a composition?

it removes the need for structure in your piece

it helps shape the direction of the composition and will help to generate ideas

it means you don't have to worry about what is written in the brief

What is the benefit of thinking in more detail about the context of your brief before composing?

True or false? We should stick with our first idea as the musical starting point for our composition.

a sequence of notes that forms the main tune

Which of the following could be a starting point for a composition?

Starter Quiz

What is a melody?