Improvisation and Composition Activity Series 2

This printable activity is intended for use in musical instrumental lessons, (or class music lessons where pitched instruments are available), to:

• Support strong rhythmic skills
• Make improvisation fun and accessible
• Develop musical expression through the use of dynamics, tempo, articulation and pitch
• Incorporate an understanding of time signatures
• Inspire composition

For online lessons, use in a platform that allows screen-sharing and annotation. Screen-share the theme card and use annotation to write in the time signature and rhythms. Or have your student use a paper copy.

Includes

• Five theme cards
• Five themed notation templates
• 15 sets of rhythm cards, of varying complexity (in the time signatures 4/4, 3/4 and 6/8)
• Rhythm sets range from those suitable for beginners, to more complex rhythms including triplets
• Instructions

The five themes included are:

• The dragon’s keep
• The hidden glade
• The wilderness
• Sunrise
• The secret dell

Activity instructions

• Choose a set of rhythm cards and a theme
• Place the rhythm cards in the spaces on the theme page in any order they like
• Identify the time signature and write it in the space on the theme card:
  Sets 1, 2 and 3 are in 3/4
  Sets 4, 5 and 6 are in 4/4
  Sets 7, 8 and 9 are in 6/8
  Sets 10, 11 and 12 – triplets in 4/4
  Sets 13, 14 and 15 – triplets in 3/4
• Clap the rhythm
• Think about the theme—how might they use articulation, tempo, pitch and dynamics to convey the theme in their music?
• Consider whether a major or minor key would best fit the theme
• Playing their instrument, improvise a melody inspired by the theme, using the rhythm on the cards
• Experiment with the order of the rhythm cards, using a different set of rhythm cards or using a different theme
• Try notating improvised musical phrases on a stave – use the theme notation template and add in performance directions
• If using a keyboard instrument, develop an accompaniment using primary chords or experimenting with other chord progressions
• Extend the activity by developing longer compositions, using the improvised phrases as a motif. The final page of this resource is included for notating longer compositions