Tell a Tale Music Composition Lesson Plan

Students will compose a piece of music that is inspired by a short narrative.
This lesson is aimed at the piano studio, but works equally well for the general music class.
Objectives
Within 2-4 lessons, students will compose a piece of music based on a narrative. In the process the student will:
• Acquire knowledge of how to characterize sound to be descriptive
• Learn more about descriptive/program music
• Learn, review and practice basic note values
• Learn how to use basic notes and rhythms to produce a particular mood or character
• Practice short melodic patterns on an instrument
• Explore basic techniques of creating mood, character and description in a composition
• Acquire, review or practice basic staff notation
Included: sample composition and 9 short sample narratives to use