With Valentine's Day approaching, I like to incorporate a creative activity in honor of the day. Since I have found lots of ideas online for my younger students, I decided to create a new composition activity for my older students: composing a waltz!
This activity is perfect for students that are reluctant to try composing--the melody is determined by rolling dice, so all students have to do is choose between the I and V7 chord for the bass clef. This is a great way to introduce (or review) the waltz-style accompaniment pattern, as well as introduce students to recordings of famous waltzes by Johann Strauss, Chopin, Brahms....and the list goes on!
Once students have completed their composition on the staff page that is included, there is a list of ways to take this activity to the next level. Ask students to create a special introduction or ending for their waltz, or to create a new melody using the chords they have chosen. Have students transpose their waltz to the key of G major, or change it from C major to C minor for a different sound. These options allow students to experiment within the given framework to create a composition that is truly their own.
Click HERE to download your free waltz composition activity sheets.
What do you think? Will you be doing any composition activities with your students to celebrate Valentine's Day?
This activity is perfect for students that are reluctant to try composing--the melody is determined by rolling dice, so all students have to do is choose between the I and V7 chord for the bass clef. This is a great way to introduce (or review) the waltz-style accompaniment pattern, as well as introduce students to recordings of famous waltzes by Johann Strauss, Chopin, Brahms....and the list goes on!
Once students have completed their composition on the staff page that is included, there is a list of ways to take this activity to the next level. Ask students to create a special introduction or ending for their waltz, or to create a new melody using the chords they have chosen. Have students transpose their waltz to the key of G major, or change it from C major to C minor for a different sound. These options allow students to experiment within the given framework to create a composition that is truly their own.
Click HERE to download your free waltz composition activity sheets.
What do you think? Will you be doing any composition activities with your students to celebrate Valentine's Day?
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