Lecture 09
Melody Writing and Phrasing
Shaping a line that sings
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to: (1) write an eight-bar melody that begins and ends on the tonic; (2) use stepwise motion, repetition, and a single leap for shape; (3) sing their melody in tune and revise it after feedback.
Lesson Discussion
A melody is a sentence: it needs a beginning, a middle, and a resting place. Learners analyse a folk song to see how phrase lengths and repetition create shape, then write their own eight-bar melody over a simple chord pattern. Singing each other's melodies is part of the lesson — the ear is the final judge. Revision after feedback is where most of the learning happens.
Instructional Materials
Slide deck · Phrase analysis handout · Manuscript paper · Chord backing track · Peer-feedback checklist