Curated OER
Set a Poem to Music
Fun awaits both you and your class as you embark on a musical activity. After discussing different rhythmic meters they choose a poem to set to music. The poem must rhyme and be set to a melody in the key of C Major. Because the activity...
Curated OER
Music Composition
Are your learners ready to compose their own music? If so, this worksheet will help them do it. The sheet is broken into several staffs where they write the tune, riff, and chords. They can put them together to create a unique piece....
Curated OER
Graphic Scores
You can write some music scores using images rather than musical notation. Kids learn how they can become musical composers by using graphics or images in place of musical notation. An interesting slide-show, but a more interesting...
Curated OER
Creating an Original Opera
Learners research the lyrical and dramatic structure of opera through Internet sources and audio examples, cooperatively discuss elements of opera stories vs. their own lives and create one-act opera based on their own life experiences.
Music Theory
Music theory.net: The Major Scale
A terrific reference for music students and teachers! Explains the fundamentals of the major scale, provides diagrams, and audio clips to help children recognize this piece of music theory.
Music Theory
Music theory.net: Scale Degrees
A thorough explanation of scale degrees and the various names for each note. Provides illustrated examples and audio clips to enhance the lesson. Terrific resource for music students and teachers!
Music Theory
Music theory.net: Generic Intervals
A thorough description of generic intervals with a printable chart at the end of the lesson. MusicTheory.net provides illustrated examples, and highlighted vocabulary terms. (You may need to download Flash Player to view this site.)
Other
Finale Music: Finale Note Pad for Windows
A free music notation software program! From the makers of Finale, the industry standard for this type of software, Finale NotePad can be downloaded from Coda for free. Although it is an entry level version of Finale, it is quite useful.
PBS
Pbs: Elements of Music: Exploring the Composer's Tools
This online lesson will help students understand how composers write music by engaging in a project which culminates in their own compositions.
McMaster University
Mc Master University: Music Composition for Beginners
A brief site on the advent of technology changing how music is written (and by whom) forever. One bad point is that for most of the links to work, you have to figure out for yourself where they go and type it in.
Other
Composing Music Using Computers
Understanding MIDI, digital audio, and how to compose using both. Although this site is from 1996, much of the information remains relevant.
Other
The Golden Rules of Songwriting
Do you have the desire to begin writing music but don't know how to get started? This well written article provides some very good advice to help you on your way.
Other
Guide to Writing Lyrics
A complete guide to writing lyrics for songs and jingles. Provides good advice and insight in the art of writing lyrics.
Other
Rock Instrumental Songwriting
Aimed primarily at the young guitarist, this column addresses how to begin writing your own songs. There is some good advice on how to begin to think of the structure of your song as opposed to just thinking of a few riffs.
Other
Structural Chord Progressions
When composing music, it is good to be sure you have the right set of chords surrounding your melody. This column provides a brief overview on how to begin to think of chord structures for your songs.
Other
Using Theme and Variation in Composing
A good article on how to take a musical idea and develop it further using theme and variations. Included are a few music samples in written form and mp3 form that help to explain the concept.
Other
Compositional Inspiration
Without going into specifics, this article provides general ideas on how to begin writing your own music. A few of the ideas discussed are recording yourself playing around, learn a new scale or pattern, and apply some new music theory...
Other
Guitar Nine: So You Want to Be a Songwriter?
As the title suggests, this column deals with songwriting. It does not tell you specifically how to write a song, but it does cover a lot of good information and advice and how to get started.
Other
Writing Guitar Licks
You have just written a cool guitar lick and you want to play it in your favorite song, however, it just doesn't sound good in the song. This article explains how you can break down your lick into the key components and refine it to suit...
Other
Alan Belkin Music: On Learning Musical Craft
Alan Belkin provides four of his pedagogical booklets about composing music. They discuss fundamental principles of musical composition, counterpoint, orchestration, and harmony. and provide guidance to student composers.