Tools for Composing Melodies and Free Printable Melodic Motif Bingo

 

Musical Motifs

Memorable melodies often use repetitive variations of a short musical idea or motif. Using these same tools as you compose melodies can help you develop a musical idea into a longer interesting piece with a common idea woven throughout. 

Ways to Develop a Motif: Changing Rhythms

You can change the rhythm values by adding repeated note rhythms, 

augmentation,

 or diminution.

Repeating a short part of the melody is usually done no more than 3 times in a row.

Ways to Develop a Motif: Melodic Transformations

Repeat a short part of the melody (usually no more than 3 times in a row).

or repeat the same melodic pattern but start on a different note to form a sequence.

Hear examples in this Video About Sequence.

Another way to add interest is to use the same melody notes but invert or flip the intervals by going down instead of up or up instead of down.

or play the same melody notes backwards which is also called retrograde.

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Ways to Develop a Motif: Change Key

Changing from major or minor can add new emotions to a piece.

Melodic Motif Bingo

Game Prep: 

Print the Melodic Motif Bingo Cards and Melodic Motif Cards (Last Page). On the last page cut the motif squares apart and place face down to use as calling cards. 

Game Instructions:

 Give each player a game board. The teacher picks a card and plays an example of motif with variation. Students guess what melodic variation was played and cover their cards until someone gets bingo, four corners or blackout.

Challenge: Have students choose the card without revealing it and play their own examples of motif variations instead of the teacher.

Related Posts:

Composition 101 - 5 Ways to Begin Composing

Valentines' Composing Piano Group Lesson

I am Thankful Composing

Dice Composing: Good Better Best

Fun Tools for Teaching Composing: Resource Roundup