Part 1 – getting started
Step 1:
Using the manuscript pages in the back of your practice diary, or that you’ve printed out:
- Draw some Bar lines (8 bars is a good start, you can add more if you need)
- Draw a Treble Clef at the beginning of each line. The examples on the next page will help show how to draw these – they can be tricky! Don’t worry if they don’t look neat at first, they take some practice. If you are having difficulties move on to the next step
- Choose a Time Signature (e.g. 4 beats or 3 beats in a bar)
Step 2:
Think of a Rhythm you would like for your song (if you are confident, steps 2 and 3 can be done at the same time).
- Use Crotchets (1 beat), Minims (2 beats), Dotted Minims (3 beats), Semibreves (4 beats) and Quavers (half a beat)
- Remember the total number of beats in each bar must equal the number of your Time Signature
Step 3:
Using the C Major scale (image on this page), choose some notes to create a melody.
Remember, if you make the Intervals (jumps between higher and lower notes) too big the melody might not flow smoothly.
After you have written a few notes, play them on your instrument. If it’s not sounding quite right try changing a note or two.
Step 4:
Add ‘musical road signs’ or Dynamics marks where necessary.
- Repeat marks
- D.C. al Fine (play from the beginning and stop at Fine)
- Put a Final Bar Line (thicker line) at the end of your song
- Dynamics (loud/soft) (f, p, mf, mp, cresc. dim. rall)
Tips
- To finish your song, try to end on the same note and chord you started on.
- Write your notes as clearly as you can, this will make it easier to read and play.
- Use a pencil, not a pen! You may want to change parts of your song or correct any mistakes; this can be done easily if you have used a pencil.
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or to try different notes.
- Have fun!!
The next page has examples so you can check how your music-writing is going.
