Unit 6 – Composition
Activity 1 – Composing a simple melody
The teacher will work on the composition of a simple four bar melody in stepwise motion, using the first three notes mastered in the recorder tuition practice, i.e. using the notes G, A, and B.
The teacher will speak about the role and work of a composer, the kind of compositions he composes and how a composer can make his compositions special and different from those of other composers, how to be original. By looking at some compositions such as Mary had a little lamb and Bum, bum il-bieb, the students are made aware that compositions can be made with as few as three notes.
Students will be encouraged to write a simple melody using the three notes already mastered in the recorder tuition practice, i.e. using the notes G, A, and B. The teacher advises the students to write the melody in stepwise motion, recapitulating previous lessons on 4/4 time signature, measures, bar lines, double bar lines, etc. The melody can be enhanced with expressions and dynamics to make it more original.
Each student will be invited to play the newly composed melody on the recorder.
Activity 2 – Composing a second melody
The students will work on the composition of a simple eight-bar melody in 4/4 time, using the notes already mastered in the previous lesson, i.e. using the notes G, A, B, and including two more notes, high C and high D. The teacher can also include notes G and D as ostinato bass.
The teacher introduces the lesson by revising the previous composition lesson, using 4/4 time signature, measures, bar lines and double bar lines. The student is encouraged to write a simple melody using the three notes already mastered in the recorder tuition practice, i.e. using the notes G, A, and B. The teacher advises the students to write the melody in stepwise motion.
The student explores the possibility of writing an accompanying melody a third above the first melody. As an example the teacher and students can play the tune of the melody Bum, Bum, il-Bieb, or that of Mary Had a Little Lamb, a third apart. The examples below can be played on the recorder by the student accompanied by the teacher. The ostinato bass can be played, on the Xylophone, Glockenspiel or any other pitched instrument.
The teacher will guide the students to write an eight-bar stepwise melody, creating a second melody above the first one, and harmonising it with an ostinato bass. The melody can be enhanced with expressions and dynamics.