Scale-Trail Music Composition Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
Music Composition Elementary – Middle - High 1-4 lessons
Students will compose a melody using a scale, (with optional template provided) but within certain structural and tonal parameters. They will practice and perform the melody.
Use major/minor or chromatic as needed for your syllabus.
Objectives
Within one lesson, students will compose a scale-based melody. In the process the student will:
• Explore rhythms as per their curriculum guide
• Explore pitch as per their curriculum guide
• Explore the steps of a scale
• Learn, review and practice basic compositional techniques such as repetition, sequence and/or fragmentation if the scale-
melody is used to extend into a larger piece
• Explore basic techniques of “linking” sections of a composition through scales
• Acquire, review or practice basic staff notation
Concepts
• Melody
• Rhythm
• Scale
• Steps of the scale
• Home note / tonic (tonal center)
• Whole tone/Half tone
Photocopiable template included