Songwriting!

– Level 2

Category Steps Examples

Instrumentation Step 1: Choose an instrument to write for and use Violin – treble clef
the right clef. Viola – alto clef
Cello/bass – bass clef
Time and Key Signatures Step 2: Choose a time signature and a key Time signatures: 4/4; 3/4; 2/4
signature for your piece. Key signatures: D major, G major, C major, b
minor, e minor, a minor
Tempo Step 3: Choose a tempo. Slow – Adagio – less than 70 bpm
Medium – Moderato – 70-110 bpm
Fast – Allegro – more than 110 bpm
Rhythm Step 4: Choose which rhythm patterns you would Half notes/half rests
like to use. After this step, you’ve written a song! Quarter notes/quarter rests
But you can keep adding more things if you want 8th notes
to. Dotted half notes
Dotted quarter note + 8th note
Articulations Step 5: You can try choosing some different Arco (bowed); pizzicato (plucked)
bowings and articulations. Legato; Staccato
Accents
Slurs; Hooked bowings
Col legno
Dynamics Step 6: Consider adding some dynamics to your Pianissimo (pp), Piano (p), Mezzo piano (mp),
piece. Mezzo forte (mf), Forte (f), Fortissimo (ff)
Crescendo, Diminuendo (Decrescendo)
Extras Step 7: Feel free to add some other extras to finish Bowings – down bow, up bow, bow lift
of your composition! Fingerings – 4th finger!
Repeats, Fermatas
Double stops on open strings

You are not limited to examples on this list! These are just some guidelines to help you come up with ideas. If you have an idea to write something that is not on

this list, that’s great! If you get stuck and can’t think of what to write, try using Roll-a-Composition to help you! (You will need dice for Roll-a-Composition. If

you don’t have dice to use at home, you can try this Google Dice Roller, or you can just pick your favorite from the list without rolling any dice).