Composition in the Piano Studio

Creating is a natural expression of the child's heart.  In music lessons, creating musical sounds and songs can be a venue for young students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of various music standards presented in the piano lesson!  By providing a few guidelines for students, students of all ages can develop and create a working framework for creating musical compositions which are thoughtful, fun to play, and enjoyable to listen to...

For the young beginner, music writing activities may include a descriptive title and/or only using the black keys (pentatonic scale), which is very appealing to the ear.  Other guidelines may be to use specific dynamic markings or specific rhythmic patterns reviewed during the lesson.  

By creating music writing assignments which are directed in some way, students are set up to be successful from the beginning.  The learning objective focuses on the specific guidelines provided.  As the student becomes more confident in the compositional process, the teacher may allow the student more freedom in their writing assignments.

Here are a few specific composition assignments I give to my young piano students: These examples are graded from easiest to more difficult.  With all music writing exercises, I expect the students to write their music on a "score" in order to show me at the lesson, but also to give them a reminder of the piece they've written.  Of course for little ones, this will be some sort of pre-staff artistic display, which may include a picture of finger numbers, piano key drawings...whatever they can draw/write to remind them of their compositional design in their heads...that's what makes this composition and NOT improvisation!  

​HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES...
Create a piece using only the black keys on the piano--Choose one of the following titles for your piece--"Roller Coaster Ride; Sleeping Kittens; Racecar Drivers; etc.  Draw a picture to correspond to your composition.

Create a piece using at least 2 different dynamic levels--black keys only--give a descriptive title and draw a picture to go with your composition

Write a piece using only C Position (or Middle C Position).  Include sounds which are staccato and legato.  

Create a piece which includes the following rhythms:  Choose at least 2 of the following rhythms as a motive-- ta ta  ta-a /   ta ti-ti ta ta / ta ta ta ta 

Create a question and answer phrase--remember the question and answer need to begin in a similar way

Create a composition which has an A section and a B section.  Create a piece in ABA form.  

​etc etc etc