Composing and notating a minor melody
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compose and notate a stylistic minor melody.
Key learning points
- We can compose rhythms by selecting and arranging takadimi patterns.
- We can compose melodies by selecting pitches from the minor scale and assigning these to our composed rhythm.
- Effective melodies move mostly by step, with some leaps.
- We can use question and answer phrases to structure our melodies.
Keywords
Composition - a new piece of music that has been created
Improvisation - creating new musical ideas on the spot
Steps and leaps - melodies can move up or down one note at a time (steps) or jump up or down several notes (leaps)
Question and answer - a melody is often structured with a phrase that sounds like a question and an answering phrase
Common misconception
When composing, choosing a wide variety of complicated rhythms is more exciting than using simpler ones.
When starting composing it's often good to use mostly simpler rhythms, and to make use of repetition.
Teacher tip
Pupils can use a ruler to draw out their stave, or could have one pre-printed.
Equipment
Class set of pitched percussion instrument, pencils, rulers.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What does composing mean?
Q2.What does improvising mean?
Q3.What is the first note of the minor pentachord?
Q4.How would you describe this rhythm?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of the following would make a good rhythmic composition?
Q2.Which of the following would most likely make a good melodic composition?
Q3.What is meant by a question and answer phrase?
Q4.What is the name of the lines on which musical notes are placed?
To help you plan your 5 music lesson on: Composing and notating a minor melody, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 music lesson on: Composing and notating a minor melody, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 music lessons from the Compose and Create: composing a minor melody on a stave unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.