Activities
7. Twelve Bar Blues
Compose your own twelve bar blues by following these steps.
a. Go to Rhythm. Click on the top button called INSTRUMENT.
Click on 12 BAR BLUES. These chords will be placed automatically on your score.
b. Go to Melody. Click on PLACE NOTE.
Click on the lower button called INSTRUMENT.
Click on any notes and values grid. These notes will form the tune or melody on your score.
c. After inventing 4 bars of music go to PLAY and click on the arrow and listen to your piece.
d. Continue inventing the remainder of the 12 bars. Click on Play to hear your music. Click on PLAY arrow to hear it again.
e. To change a bar - move the mouse over your score and click once on a finished bar. A red line will appear below it. Click on it a second time and all the notes in this bar will disappear. Click in a clear space between the staves and the red bar will go away. To replace the notes in an empty bar, select notes from the MELODY section.
f. When you like the piece SAVE your work.
g. Give your piece a new title and type in your name at the top.
h. SAVE and PRINT.
8. Small group task
YOU NEED
- Four tuned percussion instruments (xylophone, drum, glockenspiel, marimba...)
- Three untuned percussion instruments (drum, shaker, woodblock, tambourine)
- One sheet paper and a pen
- One tape recorder with recording capability and one blank tape.
a. Invent a rhythm pattern using the three untuned percussion instruments. Begin with a steady beat. Add other patterns into this. When you are happy with this pattern, use the tape recorder to record at least 16 bars (i.e. 4 sets of 4 beats).
b. Using only the five notes of the C pentatonic scale (C D E G A) compose an ostinato (repeating) pattern. It needs to fit with your recorded rhythm track. Once you have worked out your ostinato, play it with your taped percussion backing.
c. While two members of the group continue to play the ostinato pattern, two others invent a tune that fits in with both parts already worked out. Use any/all of the notes from the C pentatonic scale. The two parts could be the same or different.
Practise with these until you are happy with the outcome. You could swap the players of the tune and the ostinato.
d. The paper is to note down anything that needs attention for next time you try this.
9. Musical Terms
Can you explain these terms to a partner?
Some of these can be located in the Dictionary or the Pop Ups or within the Activities. Another place to look is in Maree's information windows.
LEARNING THROUGH MUSIC
charities, lyrics, songwriting, funky dance sound, physical fitness
LEARNING IN MUSIC
tempo, chord, rhythm, melody, 12 bar blues
LEARNING ABOUT MUSIC
demo, sound technician, sampler, sequencer, producer.
