Dice Composing Game: Good Better Best

What is the first step to composing a melody?

This question has multiple answers depending on which avenue you decide to take. For example you can make a motif, launch with lyrics, start from the ground up, let rhythm set you in motion or borrow from the experts (See 5 Avenues to Begin Composing). 

This Dice Composing Game inspired by Mozart (the expert!) is a blended approach that provides a comfortable framework for beginning composers as they let the die decide their melodic pathway.

In Finale I stumbled on a hidden Mozart's Dice game and decided to put a "Good Better Best" spin on it to use with my beginning piano students.

Dice Composing Game

Materials Needed:

Dice

Dice Composing Good Better Best Free Printable 

The first page provides a rhythmic framework of the completed piece with lyrics, but all the notes are Middle C with chords.... pretty boring!

Cut apart the measures from pages 2-3 and stack the measures with the same letters/lyrics into piles.

Roll the die to determine which melody card from each pile you will use as you play your composition one piece at a time.

If you roll a 1,2,3 or 4 play the card with that number.

If you roll a 5- choose a card of your choice.

If you roll a 6- create your own melody to match the rhythm of the measure using notes from the C pentascale.

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