Elementary Level: Thankful Composing
I love finding a seasonal piano activity that I can use with all of my students at the same time. It definitely simplifies lesson planning!The simple "I am Thankful" fill-in-the-blank free printable composition created by Kristin Yost can be used by young beginners, but it can also be expanded into a more difficult project for more advanced pianists or other instrumentalists.
You can read the details about how I used the I am Thankful printable as a springboard for all of my students to create their own "I am Thankful compositions."
After starting with a melody the first week, each successive week students are given new assignments to add variety and form, choose a bass line, and add expressive elements with their own title.
For new composers, I keep the process simple and don't go into detail about more advanced concepts like retrograde, ostinato patterns, or fancy intros and outros. Instead, I might introduce basic tips for composing effective melodies during piano lab or group lessons.
Late Elementary: Pumpkin Waltz Composing
Chrissy Ricker's free page is full of so many helpful resources you might get lost discovering other treasures before you spot the "Pumpkin Waltz" Dice Composing Activity (listed under her composition worksheets).Roll a Melody
This activity is great for timid composers because they just have to roll the dice to choose pre-written measures to fill up their pieces.
Experiment with Variations
If they aren't satisfied with the simplicity of their dice melody, they could try using variation cards to experiment with options of changing up the piece until they are satisfied with the sound.
Harmonize with Chords
For the next step, they choose appropriate chords to match their melody. This is a great ear-training exercise and an important skill that is needed to harmonize melodies later that they compose from scratch.
Early Intermediate- Advanced: "Count Your Blessings" Arranging
“Count Your Blessings” is an easier Thanksgiving hymn that beginners can play and experiment with creating their own arrangements.
In the Simplified Hymn book, this piece is written in the key of C and includes just primary chord symbols. This step-by-step tutorial can guide students through the process of creating a piano arrangement lead sheet style and they can see the steps in action.
For more of a challenge, students can try playing this Piano Song Download lead sheet version of "How Great Thou Art" by Stuart Hine in the key of B-flat.
Piano Improvisation for Any Level
I am thankful for the inspiration of Forrest Kinney! His Pattern Play and Create First! books have given me the confidence to explore creating at the piano instead of just reading other's creations. The calm serenity of Scales Dream of Melodies just gives me a thankful vibe.
Calm and Grateful Improvisation
Students (and teachers😉) can watch the sample improvisation video below and then create their own improv using notes from the C Major Scale. To guide the rhythms and create more natural phrasing you could think of some "thanksgiving phrases" to repeat in your mind as you create melodies that match the rhythm pattern.
Create First Scales Dream of Melodies Solos or Duet.
Jazzy Turkey Blues Improv
While Thanksgiving is a fun holiday for people, it might give a turkey the blues! For this improvisation, imagine a turkey is singing his Thanksgiving blues song. Use these lyrics or come up with some of your own.
"I'm so blue...
because I might be turned into stew
while everyone is grateful
I'm feeling blue today!"
Watch Create First 2 Heart and Soul Blues Duet or Solo. Can you improvise your own melody using the I-vi-IV-V chord pattern.
For a simpler bass line you can just play the root notes (See Free printable Heart and Soul by Rebecca Maxner.)
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