- Year 7
Developing your minimalist composition
I can develop a complete minimalist composition through use of dynamics, texture and structure.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 7
Developing your minimalist composition
I can develop a complete minimalist composition through use of dynamics, texture and structure.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Minimalist composers develop their compositions by varying different aspects, including dynamics and texture.
- This allows them to create some contrast, keep the music engaging while still using their repeating ostinati.
- We describe texture using the words thick or thin.
- Binary form (AB) and ternary form (ABA) are very common structures in music.
Keywords
Dynamics - The dynamics of a sound are its volume.
Structure - The structure is the order of the different sections in a piece of music.
Binary form - A piece of music with only two sections (AB) is in binary form.
Ternary form - A piece of music with the structure ABA is in ternary form.
Common misconception
Lots of automation changes make the dynamics effective.
Doing lots of dynamic changes can sound chaotic and messy. Try to limit your use of automation so that changes are gradual and slowly change the dynamics.
To help you plan your year 7 music lesson on: Developing your minimalist composition, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 music lesson on: Developing your minimalist composition, 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.
Explore more key stage 3 music lessons from the Minimalist composition unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
A DAW or other suitable compositional tool or instrument
Licence
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