Music Composition Lesson Plans for Beginners

Music composition is a vital outlet for creativity, allowing students to create unique sounds. From crafting melodies to exploring harmonies, composition lessons go beyond teaching technical skills—they foster artistic growth. 

Instruments like the handpan, with its soothing and melodic tones, can serve as an inspiring tool in this creative process.

While many lesson plans offer a structured approach, they often fail to address individual learning needs. A flexible lesson plan that adapts to each student's pace allows for more personalized growth. With the proper guidance, students can refine their technical abilities while gaining the confidence to compose original music that reflects their creativity.

This blog will show you how to adjust your lessons for music composition lesson plans to fit different skill levels, learning styles, and classroom environments.

What are the Benefits of Learning About Music Composition?

Including music composition lesson plans in your lessons brings many benefits beyond just learning how to make music. Here's how it can help your students grow:

1. Cognitive Development

Writing music helps activate both sides of the brain, which leads to better cognitive skills. Research shows it improves spatial-temporal skills, essential for understanding complex math and science concepts. For example, students who compose music also tend to have better memory and focus, which can also improve their performance in other subjects.

2. Emotional and Psychological Well-being

Composing music gives students a way to express their feelings. This can help them process emotions, improve mood, and reduce stress. For example, many students feel more relaxed and less anxious, especially before tests and exams, because music composition gives them a way to deal with their emotions.

Here's a beautiful example of Prana, the founder of The Sound Artist Handpan School, playing handpan music designed as a guided meditation to soothe the mind and nourish the soul.

"Your Path is Guided" | Handpan Meditation #24 | Prana Rising

3. Academic Achievement

Music composition helps develop skills like attention to detail, pattern recognition, and problem-solving, which are helpful in all areas of learning. For example, students who are involved in music education perform better academically. They often score higher on standardized tests like the SAT, with improvements in both reading and math. This is because 

4. Development of Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills

Composing music encourages creativity and original thinking. These skills are not just crucial for music; they're valuable in school and life. For example, students have to solve problems and make decisions as they create music, which helps them develop strong problem-solving skills. 

5. Social and Cultural Awareness

Exploring different musical styles from various cultures helps students appreciate diversity and become more open-minded about other parts of the world. For example, creating music helps students work together and communicate better. When they collaborate on compositions, they learn essential teamwork skills. 

Music composition into your lessons gives students a well-rounded education that helps them grow in many cognitive, emotional, and social areas while also boosting their academic success.

As students progress in music composition, they build resilience and confidence. Let's look at how learning to embrace imperfection is an important part of their growth as musicians and individuals.

Building Confidence and Embracing Imperfection

Creating a classroom where students feel comfortable making mistakes and expressing themselves is key to building confidence in music composition. Here's how you can create this kind of environment:

1. Cultivate a Welcoming Environment for Imperfection

For students to be creative, they need to feel safe to experiment and try new things without worrying about making mistakes. For example, encourage them to see their compositions as "works in progress." This mindset allows them to take risks and learn from their experiences. Instead of focusing on perfection, guide students to ask questions like, "What about this melody feels unfinished?" This helps them focus on growth and improvement rather than aiming for something flawless.

2. Provide Opportunities for Sharing and Reflection

Let students share their music and reflect on their creative process. This helps them learn more and gain confidence. For example, activities like peer feedback sessions, where students give and receive feedback, create a supportive environment where everyone can learn from each other.

These practices in your music composition lesson plans help students develop their musical skills and boost their personal growth and self-confidence.

With newfound confidence and the willingness to embrace imperfection, students are ready to explore composition. Now, let's focus on the practical strategies and techniques you, as a teacher, can use to guide them.

What are the Strategies and Techniques for Teaching Composition?

Using different strategies in your music composition lesson plans can help improve your students' creativity and understanding of music. Here are some ideas to try:

1. Encourage Improvisation and Transcription

Include improvisation in your lessons so students can explore spontaneous creativity. This helps them develop their musical intuition and self-expression. Transcription activities, where students listen to music and write it down, also improve their understanding of musical styles and structures. For example, having students transcribe jazz solos can teach them to appreciate improvisation and understand musical elements better.

2. Use Observation and Discussion as Composition Methods

Create a classroom where students actively listen to different types of music and talk about what they hear. This helps improve their listening skills and encourages critical thinking. Asking questions like, "What about this melody feels incomplete?" pushes students to think deeper about the music. These discussions strengthen their listening abilities and inspire them to bring thoughtful ideas into their compositions.

3. Focus on Specific Musical Elements for Project-Based Learning

Design projects focusing on specific musical elements, like rhythm, melody, or harmony. This allows students to dive deeper into each part of music and better understand how it all works together. For example, having students create rhythmic chants based on words from a story helps them better understand rhythm and how it can be used to express ideas.

Using these strategies, you'll create a classroom environment that encourages creativity and helps your students develop their skills as composers while giving them a deeper appreciation for music.

Challenges and Solutions of Learning to Compose

Teaching music composition lesson plans can be challenging for both teachers and students. These challenges and strategies can improve the learning experience for everyone involved.

1. Addressing Teacher Confidence and Expertise

Many teachers feel unsure about teaching composition, especially if they lack experience or expertise in composing music. This can make it hard for them to guide students..

Solution: Keep improving your skills by attending workshops, working with experienced composers, and using available resources. Building your confidence will help you teach more effectively and support your students better.

2. Balancing Structured Techniques with Creative Freedom

Finding the right balance between teaching music theory and encouraging creativity can be tricky. Focusing too much on strict techniques can limit students' creativity, while giving too much freedom may leave them unsure of how to create music.

Solution: Use a teaching method that combines both. Teach students the basics of music theory and composition techniques, and allow them to experiment with their ideas. This will help them grow both technically and creatively.

3. Managing Diverse Skill Levels and Learning Styles

Students come to composition classes with different levels of experience and learning styles, making it challenging to meet everyone's needs.

Solution: Use different teaching methods to suit all students. Offer personalized feedback and create assignments that allow students to work at their own pace based on their strengths and interests. This way, all students can stay engaged and be appropriately challenged.

4. Overcoming Technological Barriers

Using technology in composition can be overwhelming, especially for students unfamiliar with digital tools. Technical problems can also interrupt the learning process.

Solution: Provide training on the digital tools you use in class to ensure students feel comfortable with them. Be ready to solve technical issues quickly so they don't interrupt the creative process.

5. Continuous Student Engagement

Keeping students motivated throughout the composition process can be tough, especially when they face difficulties or feel disconnected from the material.

Solution: Create a collaborative classroom where students can share ideas and give each other feedback. Use a variety of musical styles and projects that match students' interests. Celebrate their progress and achievements to keep them excited and motivated.

With thoughtful strategies, you can create an environment that supports students' growth as composers and helps them develop a lifelong appreciation for making music.

Prana Rising | "Warrior Spirit" | Handpan Activation #1: This video showcases "Warrior Spirit", the first episode in Prana Rising's Handpan Activation series. 

You'll experience dynamic and rhythmic handpan drumming designed to energize and awaken inner strength. The performance is vivid and expressive, featuring a lively interplay of beats and tones reflecting the empowerment theme. 

As students face challenges, collaboration can be a powerful way to help them grow. Let's discuss how group composition activities build student teamwork and creative collaboration.

Collaborative and Team-Based Composition Activities

Group projects and team-based activities in your music composition lesson plans can significantly improve students' musical skills and ability to work together. Here's how you can add these strategies to your curriculum:

1. Designing Group Projects for Teamwork

Group composition projects help students develop listening, adaptability, and teamwork skills. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Ensemble Participation

Get students to play or sing together, interpreting and performing music as an ensemble. It teaches them how to listen carefully to each other, balance their contributions, and work together to create a unified sound.

• Composition-Based Learning

Encourage students to work together to compose original pieces. In this process, they brainstorm ideas, negotiate musical elements, and make creative decisions. It helps them develop teamwork skills and deepen their understanding of music theory and composition.

2. Collaborative Digital Tools for Music Creation

Using digital tools can make collaboration easier, especially if students are working remotely or in hybrid learning environments. Here are some great platforms for group music projects:

• BandLab: This cloud-based digital audio workstation (DAW) allows several users to collaborate on music projects in real-time. Students can create, edit, and share their music, getting instant feedback from each other and their teacher.

• Soundtrap: An online DAW from Spotify, Soundtrap supports collaborative music creation. Students can work together on projects using a variety of instruments and effects and communicate through built-in messaging features.

• Flat.io: This online music notation software lets students compose sheet music together in real time. They can leave comments, track changes, and collaborate on compositions.

• FarPlay: FarPlay enables live, low-latency collaboration, allowing students to rehearse and perform together remotely as if they were in the same room.

These collaborative activities and digital tools in your music lessons can create a fun and supportive environment that helps students improve their musical skills while developing teamwork and communication abilities.

Conclusion

Incorporating music composition into lessons offers students a meaningful way to explore their creativity and connect with music on a deeper level. By using strategies such as improvisation, transcription, listening activities, and hands-on projects, the classroom becomes a space where students are inspired to engage and contribute. 

The Sound Artist Handpan School stands out as a leader in Centerport, New York, and the surrounding areas, offering a unique approach to handpan education. Known for its fusion of music education and personal development, it's a place where creativity and self-expression thrive. 

Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, The Sound Artist Handpan School is the ideal environment for growth. Connect with us on Instagram and begin your musical journey today!

If you're just starting and looking for emotional healing or aiming to improve your musical skills, the school helps your artistic and personal growth. Contact The Sound Artist Music & Handpan School today!