Mother’s Day Beginning Composing

Click here for the prereading composing bundle in the store.

Click here for the on-the-staff composing bundle in the store. 

These composing sheets have been very popular with students over the years.

Some students take meticulous care in writing their melody. Others dash it off as just one more thing they have to hurry through! Some like to add words and others want to change my rhythm all around. It’s interesting to watch their reaction and it’s fine with me! My rule is that it has to end on the tonic to work with my melody.

If you’ve never seen this kind of composing sheet, here is a quick tutorial.

Pre-reading

• Use any 5-finger position.
• Clap, sing, and count the rhythm until they know it well.
• Students write in the finger numbers they want to use inside the graphics. Be sure to use pencil! A good composer is always revising!
• Optional: Laminate and add a bow as a Mother’s Day present!

On-the-staff

• Follow the same directions as above, except students write their melody on the staff.
• Students who are more advanced like to write in chords or notes in the l.h. and melody in the right.
• Beginning students limit their melody to the right hand in C position.
• Explain a good sounding melody often will end on the 5th note of the scale in measure 12 and the tonic key note in the last measure. This is a great opportunity to discuss how to write a good melody.