Elements of Composition

• Are tools that can help to organize sounds and the elements of music
to blend together.

Variety
A musician or composer uses variety within a musical composition to create
interest. Variety is often created through the use of contrast, such as loud to
soft dynamics, harsh to smooth timbres and thick to thin textures. A
composer might, for example, repeat a previously heard melody twice as
fast (tempo change) or in a different key (tonality change).

Repetition
Musicians and composers use repetition to help the listener become familiar
with the major ideas or themes of a musical piece. The repetition of a
particular melody, theme or rhythm often gets the audience’s attention back
to an idea or thought that the musician or composer wants to communicate.

Balance
Balance in music refers to the volume of various sounds when they happen
at the same time.

Acoustics
Acoustics refers to the quality of sound transmission in a space. (Why do
sounds sound the way they do?) This includes the way places such as
meeting halls, classrooms or an outdoor field reinforce, absorb and reflect
sound. A musician or composer might create a piece of music for a particular
space such as a specific church, or a general space such as "outdoors".

Tension and Resolution

In many forms of music, tension builds to a climatic peak and is followed by
a brief resolution to finish the work. This type of action is sometimes referred
to as biological form(or story board) -- a gradual building of interest and
knowledge followed by a resolving climax and a rapid end.

Transition
Transition in music typically involves the connection of ideas or "bridging" of
one part of the music to another.

Unity
Unity is the principle of composition in which all the separate parts work
together to make a complete whole. The elements, ideas and principles are
combined in such a way that all are essential to the product.

FINAL PROJECT
By combining all four strands of art together(drama, dance, music and
art), within a group of 5-6 people, you will create a performance using
information we have learned in class. This may include some of the
elements of music and composition, dramatic and dance techniques
for expression, and an artistic flairto tie everything in your group
performance together. Your group must:

• Create a musical composition using ‘instruments’ which you have

found or created.

• Use different elements of music discussed about in class(ex: repetition,

the ‘story line’ theory, variety of sound, etc)

• Use a combination of drama and dance to accompany your music (can

be verbal or non-verbal)

• Create a visual presence that ties everything together(costumes,

decoration of instruments, back drop, lighting, video or slideshow to
play in background, etc)

You will be marked personally by your group members on:

Never Sometime Usually Always

s
1 3 4
2
Active
participation
within your
group
Willingness
to listen to
and work
with others
ideas
Helps in all
aspects of
the
performance
Shows up for
all practices
Good
attitude

As a group, Ms. Martinuk as well as your other classmates will be marking

on:

Performan Poor Almost Well Done Awesome

ce there..
1 3 4
contained:
2
-music was
original
-instruments
were present
and used
effectively
-dance
/drama was
used to make
use of the
stage and to
add a story
to the
performance
-visual art
was used in a
creative way
-effects
learned in
class were
used
-All group
members
were
involved
Presentation
was
engaging

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