Page 67 - Music

movement means that a note moves to the next by skipping one or more notes.
Figure 4.2 shows an example of a step movement from C to D and a leap movement
from D to G.

step leap

Figure 4.2: Step and leap movements

Composing simple melodies
Composing simple melodies is an important part of music creation that allows
musicians to express their creativity and emotions through music. Simple melodies
lay a foundation for more complex musical compositions, including songs,
instrumental musical pieces, film scores and video game soundtracks.

Steps to compose a simple melody in staff notation
(a) Write down a clef for your melody on the staff.
(b) Write down a key signature for your melody on the staff.
(c) Write down a time signature for your melody on the staff.
(d) Compose a short and simple melodic idea (melodic motif). One recommended
way of creating a simple melodic motif is to choose the first, third and fifth
notes of the scale. For example, in the key of C major, the notes would be
C, E and G. Thereafter, choose a simple rhythm for two bars and write the
motif on the staff. The two bars you have written will be referred to as phrase
“A”. A phrase is a short section of a musical composition usually composed
of two to four bars. Figure 4.3 shows an example of a simple melodic motif.

Phrase A

Figure 4.3: A simple melodic motif

(e) Modify the motif by adding note(s) on it to complete phrase A (first and
second bars). The added note(s) can include a stepwise movement between
the present notes. The movement can be in upward or downward direction.
For example, in the first bar of the motif in Figure 4.4, the second beat (note

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