Discuss the simple aspects of traditional music notation and explain it. It can be done without detailing the pitches and rhythmic intricacies that intimidate non musicians. Discuss how the melody achieves the desired effects. Students should write brief thoughts in journals, create story fragments. Teacher can incorporate this into the language arts components currently being taught in the school.
Teacher can discuss the strategies used to alter melodies.
As a class, students discuss and justify their melodic choices. Students examine a piece of written or recorded music to identify melodic alteration. Assessment Students analyze each other's works for effectiveness of notation and motivic alteration. Ask students to reflect on their composing in their journals. Review their work and look for evidence of their understanding the importance of contour in melodic lines and how it influences emotion.