Year 10 - Music
Composing rhythmic ideas
Free composition: Creative starting points
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Unit Summary
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Lesson Summary
You will learn to create short rhythmic patterns as the first steps in free composition.
Key Notes
- The rhythm and syllables of words can help us create rhythmic variety in our compositions.
- Variety is important as it creates interest for the listener, so we need to use both simple and complex rhythms.
- We can also use syncopation and polyrhythms to create interest.
- Using repeated patterns or an ostinato allows the music to have a sense of unity.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Ostinato: An ostinato is a short, repeated pattern.
- Polyrhythm: A polyrhythm is when two or more independent rhythmic patterns are played at the same time.
- Syncopation: Syncopation is when a rhythm emphasises notes in between the main beats; this effect is often created by half-beat rests on the beat or dotted rhythms.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- To compose a rhythm we need to consider notation first.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
The rhythm and syllables of words can help us create rhythmic variety in our compositions. Variety is important as it creates interest for the listener, so we need to use both simple and complex rhythms.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Ostinato'
An ostinato is a short, repeated pattern.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: To compose a rhythm we need to consider notation first. Correction: It is important to encourage pupils not to be restricted by only rhythms they can notate and for them to experiment with rhythmic patterns that they like musically. Highlight that individual note durations such as a crotchet are not rhythms.
More Lessons In This Unit
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