3.
Small assignment: Create a new part to a song of your choice
Create a second part to accompany a song selected in a songbook.
Assignment author
Tapio Lappalainen
Basics
Minimum time required
Goal and output
Pedagogical goal
Practise creating a second part by ear, applying theoretical understanding of intervals
Concrete output
An original second part to accompany a song of the student's choice
Work progress
• Invite each student to select a song in a songbook, or to write down the page numbers of several songs, from which you may select one suitable for the assignment, for instance on the basis of interesting harmonies.
• After selecting the song, instruct students to come up with a second part above or below the melody of the selected song by ear (at keyboards, wearing headphones), applying their current theoretical knowledge about intervals.
• Have students write down on score paper both the original melody and the second part they have come up with.
• Go from student to student, commenting on how the student's second part works. Use a splitter plugged into the headphone port on the keyboard so that both you and the student can listen to the student's second part.
Topics in the assignment
Musical structures and analysis
Playing an instrument & singing
Notation & music terminology
Arranging & parts
Music technology
Styles & techniques
Imagination & other arts
Tools
Detailed description of tools
Songbooks, signal splitter
Remarks
This assignment is suitable for students at various levels. Beginners can be invited to come up with a homophonic second part, while more advanced students may be able to come up with a polyphonic second part.
Each student should have a keyboard instrument to himself/herself.
Further assignments
Assignment suitable for further study
