UNIT

5:

I.V.:

Name: Form:

Teaching
g roup:
Target:

Start date:
Comple.on date:

Unit 5: Exploring Musical Composition

Four assignments:
1. Five Original Ideas.

5P1, 5M1, 5D

2. Developing Ideas.

5P2, 5M2, 5D2

3. Putting it together.

5P3, 5M3, 5D3

Compose 5 original ideas

and record them.

Develop 3 of these ideas and

say how they have been developed.

Produce a complete composition

using one of your original ideas.

4. Whats the Score?

Produce a score so that other

musicians can perform your work.

5P4, 5M4, 5D4

are looking for new songwritersthis

could be life changing! But how can you
show them that you are worth taking
on?

TASK 1
5P1 Create five original musical ideas that could form a basis for a composition.
5M1 Create five original musical ideas that could form a basis for a composition,

demonstrating a range of distinctive characteristics.

5D1 Create five original musical ideas that could form a basis for a composition,

demonstrating a wide range of distinctive characteristics and showing imagination.

Your five starting points should be just that; ideas for the start of a composition.
Your ideas may include:
Chord sequences / progressions ( 4- 8 bars)
Melodies (4 8 bars)
Hooks / Riffs
Sound samples
Rhythm patterns.

Your five original ideas should be recorded once completed.

REMEMBER: Your 5 ideas need to form the basis of a

piece or section of a piece, they should be different and
catchy.
E.g.: well-constructed melodic content,
chord progressions and catchy hooks),
show some imagination, essentially, ideas that grab
listeners attention.

TASK 2
love your ideas but they need convincing.can you make
something more of your original music?
NUMU: want to see that you can extend and develop 3
of your ideas into something more substantial

5P2 Identify the techniques used to extend, develop and manipulate three original

musical ideas.

5M2 Describe the range of techniques used to extend, develop and manipulate three
musical ideas.

5D2 Explain the range of techniques used to extend, develop and manipulate three
musical ideas.

Choose three of your ideas from Task 1.

Try to make them all different, you may wish to choose:
A rhythm, a melody and a chord sequence.
When developing these original ideas think about:
Extending and developing an idea: repetition; decoration; variation; sequence; contrast.
Manipulating techniques: transposition; transformations (inversion, retrograde,
retrograde inversion); cut and paste techniques; processes
(canon, phasing, addition, subtraction, augmentation, diminution, displacement).
Working with layers: instrumentation; textures; contrasts.
All three ideas will be recorded for Task 2.
You will also need to include a written document identifying how you have extended and
developed your original ideas; this may be in the form of a short written report.

TASK 3
You can develop your ideas using musical techniques but
can you put it together to make that fully formed track
NUMU now want to see the finished package, so get that
track completed!

5P3 Create a fully-formed musical composition, demonstrating the ability to handle

musical elements appropriately.

5M3 Create a fully-formed musical composition, demonstrating the ability to handle a

5D3

range of contrasting musical elements appropriately and in a structured way.

Create a fully-formed musical composition, demonstrating the ability to handle a
wide range of contrasting musical elements appropriately, in a structured way
and demonstrating imagination.

Using one of your developed ideas you now need to work this into a
fully formed piece.
You music should have a clear structure, show that it develops and uses
a range of musical elements.
To achieve that distinction your piece should be imaginative!
When your piece is finished it should be recorded for presentation.

TASK 4

Your track is a success and everyone wants to play it!

Numu have asked you to present your track so that others can
play it. get it written down!
5P4 Present musical material in a manner appropriate to the style/genre.
5M4 Present musical material in a manner appropriate to the style/genre with clarity
and accuracy.

5D4 Present musical material in a manner appropriate to the style/genre with clarity,
accuracy and attention to detail.

Your finished music should be written down in a way which is

suitable for its genre.
E.g. If you have written a song you may want to produce a chord
chart with lyrics.
If you have produced a piece for an instrument you may need to write
it out using musical manuscript.
Your work should be clear, precise and show attention to detail.
Remember to include dynamics if appropriate.
Consider the following in your work for this assignment:
Appropriate presentation methods: conventions of particular styles,
genres (recordings, MIDI and audio files); scores.
Types of score: full score; lead sheet; chord chart; graphic scores;
relevant computer software.

These resources are recommended by edexcel.

Take a look at them as they will support your learning.

Cole B The Composers Handbook (SchoE, 1996) ISBN 9780946535804

Cole B The Pop Composers Handbook
A Step-by-Step Guide to the ComposiUon of Melody, Harmony,Rhythm
and Structure (SchoE, 2006) ISBN 9781902455600
Runswick D Rock, Jazz and Pop Arranging (Faber, 1993) ISBN 9780571511082
Russel B and Harris T The GCSE ComposiUon Course
(Peters EdiUon, 2007) ISBN 9781843670056
Russo W Composing Music: A New Approach
(Chicago University Press, 1988) ISBN 9780226732169
Stewart D Inside the Music: The Musicians Guide to ComposiUon, ImprovisaUon
and the Mechanics of Music (Backbeat Books, 2000) ISBN 9780879305710
Winterson J (editor) The New Edexcel GCSE Anthology of Music: Anthology of Scores,
Revised EdiUon (Peters EdiUon, 2007) ISBN 9781843670216

www.briUshacademy.com
www.prsformusic.com

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hEp://musescore.org/

BriUsh Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors

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Unit 5: Exploring Musical ComposiUon

Name

Grading
criteria

Signature:
Assessor:
Evidence required

5P1

create five original musical ideas that could

form a basis for a composition

5M1

create five original musical ideas that could

form a basis for a composition,
demonstrating a range of distinctive
characteristics

5D1

create five original musical ideas that could

form a basis for a composition,
demonstrating a wide range of distinctive
characteristics
and showing imagination

5P2

identify the techniques used to extend,

develop and manipulate three original musical
ideas

5M2

describe the range of techniques used to

extend, develop and manipulate three musical
ideas

5D2

explain the range of techniques used to

extend, develop and manipulate three musical
ideas

5P3

create a fully-formed musical

composition, demonstrating the ability
to handle musical elements appropriately

5M3

create a fully-formed musical composition,

demonstrating the ability to handle a range
of contrasting musical elements
appropriately and in
a structured way

5D3

create a fully-formed musical composition,

demonstrating the ability to handle a wide
range of contrasting musical elements
appropriately, in a structured way and
demonstrating imagination

5P4

present musical material in a manner

appropriate to the style/genre.

5M4

present musical material in a manner

appropriate to the style/genre with clarity
and accuracy.

5D4

present musical material in a manner

appropriate to the style/genre with clarity,
accuracy and attention to detail.

Met
with
date

Tally

Feedback

Name:
Assessor Feedback 1:

Assessor Feedback 2:

Learner Feedback 1:

Learner Feedback 2:

Action Plan:
Tutor:
Learner:
Final Unit Grade
IV Feedback:

Date:

Name:_______________________ Music Group:________ Form:____

Student Check List Unit 5: Exploring Composition
Unit 5 Task 1: Starting Out..
5PMD
1

Five original Musical

Ideas:

Musical
Idea

Tick

How has it been recorded?

Tick

How have you extended it?

Melody
Harmony
/ Chords
Bass line
Rhythm
Patterns
Sound
samples
Hooks /
Riffs
Lyrics

Unit 5 Task 2: Developing Ideas

5PMD
2

Choose 3 of your ideas to

develop:

Musical
Idea

Is it recorded & how?

Melody
Harmony
/ Chords
Bass line
Rhythm
Patterns
Sound
samples
Hooks /
Riffs
Lyrics

Unit 5 Task 3: Putting it together..

5PMD
3

Completed Track with all ideas put together.

Is it recorded & how?

Unit 5 Task 3: Putting it together..

5PMD
4

Completed score of your final piece.

Is it printed/ wriEen out?