Composition Experiences

• Composition Task 1 (In – Class): Rhythm Cells (In Lesson Resource)

  • Individually or in groups create a rhythmic pattern using 2-note and 3-note groupings.

  • Add pitches to these rhythms using a limited pitch set.

  • Expand your rhythmic pattern into a 30 second piece by augmenting or diminishing the rhythms, changing the length of rests between the patterns, and/or allocating different pitches from the same pitch set.

  • Dovetail your Rhythm cells so that they either come in at the end of each cell, or overlap.

  • Compositions performed and recorded using SeeSaw, uploaded to student EverNote (some added to Coggle mindmap as example of rhythm cells)

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• Students perform an excerpt from Peter Sculthorpe's Morning Star I (2nd Movement) for String Quartet. Students then compose a short cross rhythm, repeated 4 times, notate it, and perform it to the class.

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• Composition Task 2: Expanding and looping rhythmic cells, creating changes in texture through use of cross rhythms, repetition, and moto perpetuo.

  • Class shares their work with each other at the end of lesson. Opportunities for peer and teacher feedback.

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• Composition Task 3: Develop your Rhythmic cells by expanding pitch material through adding a bassline (descending, ascending, or otherwise)

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• Composition Task 4: Students to extend their composition (based on rhythmic cells) by incorporating elements of aleatoricism, and extended techniques, using appropriate notation.

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• In class composition activity.

  • Student to play rhythmic cell (with pitch material) from their composition. Teacher demonstrates the addition of one or two effects to the track, using garageband or pedals or reverb. Discuss tone colour before and after.

  • Effects include: reverb, compression, tremolo, chorus, delay, and EQ/filters.

  • Students apply production techniques to their composition​

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• Students to create notation for their piece,