Sheafe Road Elementary School

Helpful Links for extra Study

Simple Gifts Violin Line A

Simple Gifts Viola Line A

Simple Gifts Cello - Line A & B

Simple Gifts String Bass - Line A

 Viola Assignment: Minuet 1

Items to Focus On during Practice:                          

Maintain Proper Posture:                 
      Straight Left Wrist (Vln/vla on shoulder)                        
      Bow Hold - everything should be curved and relaxed                              
Use Full bows on Highway 
Always produce a clear solid tone
Check Intonation (playing in-tune/on tapes)  

Use a Metronome to help you keep a steady beat while practicing:

Metronome Online

4th Quarter Composition Project

Feel free to use Note Flight   for your composition. Noteflight lets you write, play back and share music notation on the web. Noteflightis an easy to use, full-featured application to write, play back and share musical scores. It's free and you can create an account using your wcsd email account.                                 

Due Date: 

Directions: Create an original musical composition that is at least 16 measures long. Include correct clef for your instrument, the correct amount of sharps in the key signature, and correct time signature.  Please check note stem direction and how many beats per measure. The composition should be neatly written in pencil so that your classmates may easily read your music.

Tips and Hints:

Find a rhythm pattern that you enjoy. Do not be afraid to repeat this pattern every 2-4 measures. Mix up the note durations to create a more interesting piece. Perhaps even write the rhythm first, and then add the different pitches.

Write two measures then sing or play them. Revise the notes if you need to. Then move on to the next two measures.

Have the first and last note of the piece the same. This is your Tonic note. This is “Do” in “Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do.” “Do” and “Sol” are your friends. I would strongly suggest you start and end on open D or high D if you are in the Key of D Major.

Don’t be afraid of dynamics, slurs, and crescendos/decrescendos. They make the music interesting. If you want the music notes short and separated add Staccato markings. If you want the music smooth, indicate a legato bowing.

Composing and writing music is a way for YOU to tell musicians how you want them to perform your music. Make it easy for them to understand what you want them to play.