How to Write a Song

(in Word)

A 40-minute lesson plan for grades 4-12.

Objective: Students will understand how speech inflection translates into specific pitch.

Materials: Lined paper, pencil, keyboard or resonator bells.

Underlying Concept: Music pitch can derive from speech inflection. If you can say something, you can sing it.

Process:

Step 1(a): Ask the students to write a sentence - a statement of fact or fiction on any topic of their choosing. Be sure to triple-space. If the sentence is six words or fewer, it should be written twice.

Step 1(b): Ask the students to write a second sentence that reflects closure of the first sentence. If the sentence is six words or fewer, it should be written twice.

                Example step 1:

                        Yesterday, I went to the zoo

                        Yesterday, I went to the zoo.

                        I ate some cotton candy and smelled some kangaroos.

Step 2(a): Underline the syllables.     Yes ter day I went to the zoo.

Step 2(b): Drop all syllable lines down two lines. Sing an example on the board in monotone. As the lines now appear, there is no pitch differentiation, so all syllables sound monotone.

                        Yes  ter  day  I  went  to  the  zoo.

                        ___  __   __  _  ___   _   __   __

Step 2(c): Repeat the saying the line until its inflection tendencies reveal themselves. These tendencies can be exaggerated until you derive distinct pitch sounds. Now re-draw the lines with different line levels to reflecting thesetendencies. 

                      Yes  ter  day  I  went  to  the  zoo.

                        __                _   

                               __             ___

                                      __              __  __

                                                                    ___

Step 3(a): If bells are available, align the name of the bell to its respective line. (For example, C D E F; C having the lowest sound; F the highest)

                       Yes  ter  day  I  went  to  the  zoo.

                        F                  F    

                               E                E 

                                     D                 D   D 

                                                                     C 

 Step 3(a): Now try to sing the words with the new pitch association.