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Creating Tunes by Evie Boss
©Bossetunes 2003
Lesson 1: Start with What you are Familiar With (using nursery rhymes)
I want to first acknowledge that music is something in itself to be appreciated for its ability to
connect an audience and performers together, to convey messages even without words, to evoke the
emotive nature of man. This makes music a universal language known by all of mankind. The variety
and richness of the genres and forms is part of human history and diversity. Music has always been
a way for people to share experiences as well as to communicate on a deeper level than mere words.
The more we are exposed to the variety of rhythmic and harmonic sequences, the richer our life
experience is. Music is not just a human endeavor either and yet we have the gift to discern and
appreciate it, thus for example; a classical piece that we “feel” as being uplifting or another as sad.
In nature, there can be the thrill of hearing a wood thrush singing or the knowing the differences
between the call of a loon from that of a blue jay. For that matter there is discernment between the
"all's well" call of the blue jay and its warning call.
We are a fortunate species in that the making of music is not just limited to the males as is true for
some other animals. So there is no question that music is heart art but it is also a tool of communication.
Thus I do feel it is imperative that our children are exposed to the richness of our musical legacy. Thus,
I do not support the current popular trend towards promoting math and science programs to the exclusion of
music and art.
On the other hand I also feel that music is an excellent tool that should be utilized beyond actual music
instruction/classes. We all learned our ABC's by singing a song and at the time could not comprehend how
much larger our understanding was to become by mastering the alphabet. We learned because it was fun and
natural for us. Later we made the concrete connection of just what exactly the alphabet was. So music can
be used to introduce a new topic to youngsters, to help them remember sequences or steps in a process, or
to review the main ideas of a previous presentation. Children do this all the time. Remember parodies to
the "Happy Birthday" song? How about "On Top of Spaghetti?" (So Weird Al really isn't that weird after all…
he is just a big kid still having fun with the music he hears.) Even when jumping rope, children will often
be reciting a rhyme in a singsong fashion with the rhythm of the jumping. For a child who is refining motor
control and coordination, hearing and anticipating the rhythm is essential.
Step One: Use What You Are Familiar and Comfortable With
Studies have shown there is better retention when new information is linked with old. So musical intelligence
can be linked with all topics. Children enjoy nursery rhymes and simple songs as they develop the awareness of
musical rhythms. By listening to music, listeners can discern the progression of chords being used before the
song is even finished. Many young people can even anticipate the complimentary rhyme from the previous line. Thus
old nursery rhymes are great ways to link new knowledge.
Which finally brings me to this first exercise. It can be difficult to write a poem or
rhyme and then come up with an original melody. An easy approach to use is to start with a known rhyme. Take any
nursery rhyme… have you students use the first line and then adapt it. I have done the "Nursery
Rhymes for Polluted Times" with young people collaborating and even illustrating their "new" rhyme.
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water,
The water was bad, it made Jack sad for they had no water.
OR
The well was dry, it made Jill cry for they had no water. (gradeschool)
Little Miss Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?
With pesticides and herbicides and monoculture all in a row. (highschool)
More Examples
So try this for yourself, with your students, or your own children. Please share your ideas and I'll post them.
Stay tuned for lesson two and may you always have a song in your heart,
Evie
Lesson 2: Form a Collaboration
A great site for environmental songs and how to create them
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