Melody Maker Music Composition Lesson Plan

Overview
Lesson Plan
Music Composition Elementary – Middle - High 1 lesson
Students will compose a melody using a random selector for pitch, but within certain structural and tonal parameters. They will practice and perform the melody.
Objectives
Within one lesson, students will compose a melody. In the process the student will:
• Explore rhythms as per their curriculum guide
• Explore the steps of a scale
• Understand functional concepts about tones within the scale: home note/tonic (tonal center), semitone relationship of
steps 3-4 and 7-8
• Learn, review and practice basic compositional techniques such as repetition, sequence and/or fragmentation if the
melody is used to extend into a larger piece
• Explore basic techniques of extending a composition
• Acquire, review or practice basic staff notation
Concepts
• Melody
• Rhythm
• Tonal system (major, minor)
• Semitones
• Home note / tonic (tonal center)
• Scale
• Pitch relationships