Grade Six Music Theory: Composition Exercises. B7 - How to Compose
Below you will find a selection of openings to make into finished compositions.
Read the instructions for each question carefully, and complete the “preparation task” before you begin each time.
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Preparation Task:
- What key is it in?
- What is the time signature?
- What instrument are you writing for?
- Exactly how many bars are you going to write? Is there an upbeat to take into account? (Will you include an interpolation section?)
- Will you include a modulation, if so to what key? What key will you end in? What are the pivot chords in those two keys?
- Which parts of the opening are interesting enough to be used as motifs throughout the piece?
- Is the given opening exactly two bars long? (If not, what do you need to consider?)
- What cadences are you going to imply and what bar/beat will they fall on?
Practice Questions
Click here to print some blank manuscript paper
1. Continue this opening for unaccompanied clarinet to make a complete piece of not less than eight bars in length.
You may make any modulation or modulations that you wish, or none if you prefer.
Add performance directions as appropriate.
2. Continue this opening for unaccompanied cello to make a complete piece of not less than eight bars in length.
You may make any modulation or modulations that you wish, or none if you prefer.
Add performance directions as appropriate.
3. Continue this opening to form a complete melody for unaccompanied violin.
It should end with a modulation to the dominant and should be between eight and ten bars long.
Add performance directions as appropriate.
4. Continue this opening to form a complete melody for unaccompanied bassoon.
It should end with a modulation to the relative minor and should be between eight and ten bars long.
Add performance directions as appropriate.
