1. What makes a song…?

2. What makes a song…?
This unit will explore what is needed to create a song and some of the more technical musical ideas behind this. By the end of this unit, you will:
Describe what you think is required in a song, identifying musical ideas which can be used
Demonstrate your understanding of musical ideas and concepts covered by creating your own original song / music
Work effectively both within a group and independently
As well as working through this unit in class, you should use this power point to help you revise a lot of the key concepts from the listening section of the course.

3. What makes a song…?
Creating and Designing – What do we have to think about? If you were asked to design a building for a new school, we would have to remember to include a lot of different things and ideas . What would we need to include and think about if we designed a new school?

4. What makes a song…?
We could approach designing a song in a similar way to designing a school. There will be a lot of big and small ideas and things to include. What should we think about and include when we design / create a new song?

5. The Tempo and Rhythm of the music How Instruments will be played
What makes a song…?
Possible ideas may have included… Lets look at some of these ideas in more detail…
The Tempo and Rhythm of the music
How Instruments will be played
The overall structure of the music
Type and Number of Instruments
Which musical notes should be played
What will the “Key” of the music be?

6. Instruments How many Instruments can you name?
Use the following headings to help you…
Instruments of the Orchestra
(Woodwind, Brass, Strings, Percussion)
Guitars
Keyboards
Voices

7. Instruments of the Orchestra
Copy the table below – It includes all of the sections of an Orchestra. Modern artists still use Orchestras and the different instruments in their music.
Section
Instruments
How they are played
Strings
Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp etc.
Bowing (Arco), Plucking (Pizzicato ), Muted
Woodwind
Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone etc.
Blowing, Flutter - Tonguing
Brass
Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, French Horn
Blowing, Muted
Percussion
Drum Kit, Cymbals, Xylophone, Timpani Drum
Striking, (Drum) Rolls
Find out more here...

8. Guitars Types of Guitar Techniques Used Bass Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Plucking, Walking Bass , Ostinato , Riff , Distortion
Acoustic Guitar
Strumming, Finger-picking, Chords, Riff, Ostinato
Electric Guitar
Chords, Strumming, Distortion , Ostinato , Riff

9. Keyboards
Piano Synthesiser Organ

10. Voices S A T B Soprano Mezzo Soprano Alto Tenor Baritone Bass
Think of an example of a singer for each of the following ranges of voices
Soprano Mezzo Soprano Alto Tenor Baritone Bass
S A T B

11. Structure of a Song How could a song be structured…?
Activity: Question Pair and Share
You will be placed into a circle with a group on the inside and a group on the outside.
The person on the outside should ask their question first and the person on the inside should try to answer. Once they have, the outside person can share their answer. If they were correct, give them a point!
Repeat this with the person on the inside asking the question.
Before you move on, swap questions!

12. Structure of a Song – How many can you define?
Binary
Ternary
Verse and Chorus
Middle 8
Bridge / Link
Strophic
Coda
Instrumental Break
Pause
Drum Fill

13. Structure of a Song Binary
AB - A structure in which the music is made up of two different sections (or tunes) labelled A and B. Each section may be repeated.
Ternary
A B A – 3 part form or structure: an A section (tune) followed by a B section (tune), which is a different melody, than a return to the A section (tune).
Verse and Chorus
A structure/form popular in many songs. The music of the verse is repeated, often with different words, and (between verses) the chorus is normally repeated, featuring different music to the verse.

14. Structure of a Song Middle 8
 In popular music, a section which provides a contrast to the opening section. It is often eight bars long - Example - Monty Python
Bridge / Link Section
 A short musical section used to ‘bridge’ or link different sections of a song, i.e. between a verse and a chorus. (Similar to a Middle 8)
Strophic
 A song which has the same music repeated for verses/choruses, therefore the music will be heard repeating throughout the song (The opposite would be the music continually changing).
Coda
 A passage at the end of a piece of music which rounds it off effectively

15. Structure of a Song Instrumental Break
 A section in a song without any vocals / singing where the instruments play.
Pause
The music is held or ‘paused’ for a short period
Drum Fill 
A short rhythmic decoration played on the drum kit to help link to the next section of a song.

16. Rhythm / Tempo
Question: What can we do to the Rhythm or Tempo of a song? How could it change?

17. Rhythm / Tempo Rhythm and Tempo Sheet
With a shoulder partner, try to define / answer as many of the terms as you can.
With your group of 4, take it in turns to share or expand on the definitions and ideas you came up with in your pair.
Groups will be mixed up – Take it in turns to share or expand on the definitions and ideas you have on your sheet – be prepared to share ideas and answers with the rest of the class.

18. Rhythm / Tempo Adagio Italian term meaning a slow tempo (speed)
Italian term meaning a slow tempo (speed)
Moderato
Italian term meaning a moderate / medium tempo (speed)
Allegro
Italian term meaning a fast tempo (speed)
Accelerando
 The music gradually gets faster
Rallentando
 The music gradually gets slower
Ritardando (rit)
A Tempo
The music should return to the speed that was played before the tempo changed. For example, if the music is allegro, then has a rallentando, followed by the instruction 'a tempo', it means that after the rallentando the music should return to allegro.

19. Rhythm / Tempo Accents BPM (Beats Per Minute)
Accented notes are notes which sound louder than others. They are marked with a > sign above or below the note.
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
Gives an indication of the speed – describes how many beats are in the music each minute (The more beats, the faster the music)
2, 3 or 4 beats in the bar
How many beats naturally fall into each bar
Syncopation
The music or notes are ‘off the beat’ - Strongly accented notes playing off or against the beat. 
Pause
 The music ‘pauses’ i.e. a note or rest is held on longer than is actually written.
Anacrusis
 The music begins before the first beat of the bar – an upbeat
Cross Rhythms
Two different rhythms played against each other (i.e. 3 beats vs 2 beats)

20. Music Notes Bass Clef Understand more by going to BBC Bitesize and
Through this Treble Clef and Bass Clef video.

21. Music Keys – Major or Minor
MAJOR: The music sounds in a major key (tonality) – often described as having a cheery, happy feel to it – Listen Here MINOR: The music sounds in a minor key (tonality), often described as having a sadder feel than major - Listen Here

22. TASK:
Demonstrate what you have learned by planning and creating your own piece of music.
Start by filling in the attached planning sheet
Create a piece of music between 30s – 2minutes long. Use a wide range of musical effects,