Think tactile. Start with manuscript paper, pencils, pencil sharpener, eraser and ruler. A ‘hands-on’, more traditional approach tends to get the creative juices flowing and encourages students, particularly younger ones, to learn how to score a composition. The piece can be transferred to notation software later, if required.
Work at the piano. The piano is the best ‘sound base’ because it’s possible to hear all parts at once. This allows students to hear immediately what they’ve written. If reading all the parts simultaneously proves tricky, teachers or peers can help out.
Set the scene. Discuss a possible title and subject. Find out what fires the imagination; it might be a place, animal, an experience, or friends and family. A pet dog, for example, offers scope for fast, breathless music as the animal scampers about, whereas a ghostly apparition can inspire creepy, slow, dissonant or atmospheric music.
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