Creating a tone row
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the fundamentals of serialism and create a tone row.
Key learning points
- Serialism developed in the 20th century, with composers searching for a new approach to composition.
- It is atonal, meaning that it has no key or tonic note.
- Everything in a piece is based on a unique tone row - the 12 notes of the chromatic scale arranged in a specific order.
- A tone row must use all 12 notes and avoid repeating any.
- Arnold Schoenberg and Elisabeth Lutyens are two well-known serialist composers.
Keywords
Atonal - lacking a key or tonic
Serialism - an atonal composition method based on a specific order of pitches (a tone row)
Tone row - a specific order of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale, forming the basis of a piece of serialism
Chromatic scale - the 12 notes used in most Western music
Common misconception
A tone row is just a scale.
A tone row is different because it isn't just a set of notes to choose from, but a specific order. When you are composing something in C major, you can use the notes of the C major scale in any order. With a tone row, they have a specific order.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to thoroughly explore the notes to try to create something that sounds unique. Alternating between small and large intervals helps with this, as does changing direction between ascending and descending notes.
Equipment
Notation software, a DAW or live instruments.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a sample?
Q2.A singer making whispering noises is an example of an extended technique.
Q3.What is this symbol called?
Q4.What is this symbol called?
Q5.What note is this on the treble clef stave?
Q6.What are these five notes?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is atonal music?
Q2.How many notes are in the chromatic scale?
Q3.What is the name of a specific order of the 12 notes used in serialism?
Q4.Which two are correct ‘rules’ for a tone row?
Q5.Which of these was a famous serialist composer?
Q6.In which century did serialism develop?
To help you plan your 9 music lesson on: Creating a tone row, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 music lesson on: Creating a tone row, 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 3 music lessons from the Approaches to contemporary composition unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.