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YELLOW BRICK ROAD MUSIC

Composing in Pentatonic: a guided music composition activity – music composition

(109 customer reviews)
Category: Topic: Grade Level: Concept: Type: Formats: ,
Preview

This guided composition activity is for students in grades 3–5 who already know the pentatonic scale (do, re, mi, so, and la). Students warm up with vocal exploration, sing four-beat pentatonic patterns, and then arrange those patterns into their own composition.

What’s included

  • A slideshow with a clickable table of contents
  • 9 vocal exploration warm-ups with high-low, low-high, and same contours, plus create-your-own options
  • Match It, a game where students match what they hear to the contour on the screen
  • 9 practice slides with four-beat pentatonic patterns, plus 2 two-part challenges
  • Composition prompts for vocal explorations and for composing with the printable cards
  • Drag-and-drop Google Slides where students compose by moving pitches and rhythms
  • Printable do, re, mi, so, and la composing cards, in color (to match colored bells and tubes) and in black and white
  • Half-page printable worksheets

Formats

  • PDF
  • Google Slides: A link is included in your download and lets you add your own copy to Google Drive.

Ways to use it

  • A composition unit after students learn the full pentatonic scale
  • Partner work, where students share their compositions with each other
  • Two-group practice, with one group singing the patterns from the beginning while the other starts from the end
  • Play the colored cards on Boomwhackers™ or colored bells
  • To practice reading pentatonic patterns before composing, pair it with Snowball Pitches: Pentatonic.

Standards (NCAS)

  • Creating: Anchor Standard 1 (generate and conceptualize artistic ideas)
  • Creating: Anchor Standard 2 (organize and develop artistic ideas and work)
  • Performing: Anchor Standard 4 (select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation)

License & help

This purchase is for one teacher to use with their own students. Each teacher needs their own copy. See the full terms of sale →

Questions about downloading, printing, or Google Slides? Visit the FAQ →

Save with the bundle

This set is also part of a bundle. See it below ↓

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Composing in Pentatonic: a guided music composition activity - music composition
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$4.75

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109 reviews for Composing in Pentatonic: a guided music composition activity – music composition

  1. Laurel N. –

    Great bundle! I have been looking for some easy to use composition ideas with my primary grades!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thank you!

  2. Rock R. –

    Very useful and fun. Thanks for sharing

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      You’re welcome!

  3. Making Music Memories with Brittany DeLaruelleWard –

    Awesome product! So glad I was able to snag this at just $2. 🙂

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thanks Brittany!

  4. Floating Down the River –

    I am very excited to use this with my 4th graders when they are getting really good at the pentatonic scales. This will give me some great guidelines and activities for composing. The kids are going to love it!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      That is great to hear! Thanks!

  5. Hillary’s Highlights –

    This is PERFECT! Exactly what I’m looking for my students. Thanks for your creativity!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thanks for the great feedback!

  6. Lisa M. –

    This is fabulous! We have been working on finding Do, Re, Mi, Sol, and La on the Orff instruments and having them compose a short melody and playing was a great next step. Thank you!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you for the great feedback Lisa!

  7. Janet D –

    The color coding makes it easy for even my youngest students to be successful at composing.

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thank you Janet!

  8. Abigail R P. –

    Great tool!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thank you!

  9. Cara Coffey MiscellaneousMe –

    Love your composing packs! So helpful in leading the children into beginning music composition.

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thank you for the meaningful feedback Cara!

  10. rlbutah –

    Perfect!!! Thanks so much!!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      You’re welcome 🙂

  11. Fay G. –

    Very pleased! This is a big help. Thanks

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      You’re welcome 🙂

  12. Leslee H. –

    Teaching composition is not easy for me. Thank you for this product, I already feel more confident!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you!

  13. Rhiannan L. –

    Looking forward to using this in my classroom once my kids finally get the whole pentatonic scale happening!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Great! Thanks for the feedback 🙂

  14. Polka Dot Percussion –

    Can’t wait to use with my 2nd and 3rd graders this year! Thanks so much!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thank you for the feedback Chelsea 🙂

  15. Lauren B. –

    Composition is an integral part in understanding their comprehension of the concept. Thanks for creating a great way to practice pentatonic!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thank you for the meaningful feedback!

  16. Harmony Music –

    Very nice visuals and this will be a great review activity for my students this fall. Thanks!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thanks for the feedback!

  17. Jenny G. –

    Cute pencil graphics. I like the progression of this lesson. I think the kids will be successful with it. Thanks!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      You’re welcome 🙂

  18. James L. –

    This looks fabulous. I am excited about using it in my classes this year.

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thank you!

  19. Jenifer W. –

    Thank you, thank you…just a wonderful product! This will definitely be laminated for years of use!!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thank you so much! I truly appreciate the feedback 🙂

  20. Caitlin G. –

    Love that it has to start and end on “Do”. After my students do this activity, it will be so great to hang the compositions up on the bulletin board outside my door for everyone to see!

    • Yellow Brick Road Music –

      Thanks! I love that idea for the bulletin board 🙂

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