Summary
In this lesson, students will create a composition using a limited number of musical elements by selecting from a menu of pitches, dynamics, rhythms, and symbols. Students will then reflect on their experience and engage in a discussion concerning the benefits and drawbacks of musical limitations in songwriting.
Essential Question(s)
Can musical limitations increase creativity in songwriting?
Snapshot
Engage
Students generate lists of different musical elements.
Explore
Students choose a limited number of musical elements and create a four-measure composition.
Explain
Students listen to famous melodies that use very few notes and complete an I Notice, I Wonder activity.
Extend
Students revisit their own composition, this time using two more elements.
Evaluate
Students complete a How Am I Feeling, What Am I Thinking activity.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Composition Shopping Cart Handout (attached; one per group)
Composition Shopping Cart 2.0 Handout (attached; one per group)
Music Staves (optional; attached; one per group)
Computer or iPad (one per group)
Speaker with auxiliary connection (optional)
Sticky notes
Engage
Introduce the lesson by displaying slide 2 from the attached Lesson Slides. Review slides 3-4 to introduce students to the essential question and learning objectives.
Break students into groups using your preferred method, then have students open a blank document on their computer (alternatively, they can use blank paper and a writing utensil). Display slide 5 and introduce the Collective Brain Dump strategy. Have students follow the instructions on the slide, listing as many examples as possible of each musical element listed. After groups have generated their lists, have them share out with the class. Write group answers on the white board in their appropriate categories.
Have students make corrections to their list where necessary.
Explore
Pass out the attached Composition Shopping Cart handout. Display slide 6.
Using the Justified List strategy, have groups select the musical elements from each column that they will use to create their song. After selecting their elements, have students write one sentence in each column explaining their choices.
Display slide 7. Have students open Flat using either their browser or the app. Instruct students to sign in and make a new composition with the melodic instrument of their choice. Students can now use any number of the musical elements from their list to make a melody that is four measures long.
Display slide 8. Use the Airplane Landing strategy to decide the order in which students will share their song. Display slide 9 and instruct students to share their compositions with the class. If the class is large, you can have students plug their device into a speaker before playing for the class. Alternatively, have students perform their song on their personal instruments.
If dividing this lesson into two class periods, end day one here.
Explain
Display slide 10. Use the questions on the slide to generate a class discussion. As you conclude the discussion, prepare the students to hear some famous examples.
Display slide 11. Play the video Beethoven 9 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Riccardo Muti at the indicated time (in slide notes) and point out the "Ode to Joy" melody to students.
Display slide 12. Play the video Beethoven’s 5th Symphony - Vancouver Symphony Orchestra - Pre Social Distancing Recording and point out the opening melody of Beethoven No. 5.
Display slide 13. Play the video that Kendrick Lamar - Humble - Piano Tutorial showcases the melody from the Kendrick Lamar song, "Humble." You might also share with the students that Kendrick Lamar won three GRAMMY awards for this song, the melody of which is made up of only three notes.
Display slide 14. Using the I Notice, I Wonder strategy, have groups list one observation and one question for each of the three songs. This can be completed on devices or on a piece of scrap paper. When all of the groups have completed their list, have them share observations with the class and while you compile the answers on the board.
Extend
Display slide 15. Pass out the attached Composition Shopping Cart 2.0 handout to each of the students.
After hearing some examples, students should have a better understanding of some techniques or strategies for creating melodies. For example, the Kendrick Lamar melody needs either a flat or sharp symbol to create the correct intervals.
Have students repeat the Justified List exercise, but this time instruct them to choose two more musical elements from any column. When they’ve completed their new compositions, use the Airplane Landing strategy for share-outs.
Evaluate
Display slide 16. Pass out a sticky note to each student and have them complete the How Am I Feeling, What Am I Thinking? strategy.
Direct the students to place their sticky note on the whiteboard or wall as they leave the room.
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.). Airplane landing. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/78
K20 Center. (n.d.). Collective brain dump. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/111
K20 Center. (n.d.). Fist to five. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/68
K20 Center. (n.d.). Flat. Tech tools. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/tech-tool/2179
K20 Center. (n.d.). How am I feeling, what am I thinking? Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/187
K20 Center. (n.d.). I notice, I wonder. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/180
K20 Center. (n.d.). Justified list. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/164
K20 Center. (n.d.). POMS: point of most significance. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/101
K20 Center. (n.d.). Sticky bars. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/129
K20 Center. (2023, September 25). K20 ICAP - Music Engraver and Editor - Composition Shopping Cart [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFruZVH9y78&t=2s
Piano Vampire. (2017, March 31). Kendrick Lamar - Humble - Piano Tutorial [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVBqkwV4ijI
Symphony Orchestra. (2015, May 8). Beethoven 9 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Riccardo Muti [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOjHhS5MtvA&t=3325
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. (2020, April 8). Beethoven’s 5th Symphony - Vancouver Symphony Orchestra - Pre Social-Distancing Recording [Video]. https://youtu.be/Bhp1i_6qgk4?t=39