This assignment is to write a simple piano melody for piano using Sibelius.
Download this Sibelius starter file to the iMac Desktop
Copy the downloaded zip file to the iMac desktop and double click to "unzip" it. A new Sibelius file will appear that will be the starting point for Worksheet 14-3.
Your starter worksheet should look like this.
The song is in the key of C Major.
Key of C Major
"Two Four" time.
The melody will consist of four four measure phrases.
Phrase 1 - measures 1-4
Phrase 2 - measures 5-8
Phrase 3 - measures 9-12 is an exact REPEAT of phrase 1
Phrase 4 - measures 13-16. Measure 16 consists of one note on pitch C.
Use only half, dotted quarter, quarter, and eighth notes and rests.
Every measure of "two four" time must add up to two quarter notes.
Make the rhythms as simple or complex as you wish.
Ties are allowed.
The melody is written in the treble clef and is played on the piano by the right hand.
All melody notes must be notes of the the Major Pentatonic scale for the chord for that measure. The major pentatonic scale is
1 2 3 5 6 1
Here's a table of "legal" notes that for each of the chords.
Melody note choices |
||||||
Chord |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
C |
C |
D |
E |
G |
A |
C |
F |
F |
G |
A |
C |
D |
F |
G |
G |
A |
B |
D |
E |
G |
d minor |
D |
E |
F |
A |
B |
D |
Try to make the melody smooth across the entire four measure phrase.
Plan the rhythm first.
Phrase 1 and 2 should be "question and answer" rhythms.
Phrase 3 and 4 should be "question and answer" rhythms.
The melody should flow smoothly across all four measures of the phrase.
Stepwise motion always sounds good. Leaps are okay but are harder to sing.
The easier it is to sing, the more "melodic" it will sound.
Start simple, add complexity later after you've got a simple four measure phrase working.
Have Sibelius play it for you.
Email your completed Sibelius File to jellinge@carleton.edu
Revised by John Ellinger, Spring 2012.