Materials:
--Dice
--Paper
--Markers or crayons
Preparation:
1. Create chart for students to use when creating their chance compositions. Assign a pitch to each possible dice roll. My table: 2--C^, 3--B, 4--repeat last note, 5--E, 6--C, 7--G, 8--F, 9--go up one step from last note, 10--go down one step from last note, 11--A, 12--D. I chose those pitches based on likelihood to roll certain numbers, and assigned more likely rolls with important notes in key of C Major.
2. Decide what rules the chance composition will have. (I made these rules: No repeating same note more than 4 times. Must have at least 30 notes.)
Directions:
1. Students roll dice and write down letters, from left to right. End result will read something like: BBAGGGCDC^EGFFD, etc. Older students could write on staff, using all whole notes.
Notes:
--How many dice you have can be a limiting factor on how many students can do at once. I recommend doing in a station format.
--Can be used as part of other composition projects.
Materials:
--Dice
--Paper
--Markers or crayons
Preparation:
1. Create chart for students to use when creating their chance compositions. Assign a note or rest to each possible dice/die. I made my table to correspond with just one die and used the following values: 1--quarter note, 2--quarter rest, 3--half note, 4--two eighth notes, 5--single eighth note, 6--whole note.
2. Decide what rules the chance composition will have. (I made these rules: No repeating quarter rests, if roll two quarter rests in a row, roll again. Only use whole note once, if roll more than one whole note, roll again.)
Directions:
1. Students draw 4 large rectangles on paper. Each box is one measure and should contain 4 beats.
2. Student rolls die, draws corresponding note or rest. If student rolls a note or rest that would make the total value of the box greater than 4 beats, draw that note or rest in the next box, then return to the previous box.
3. Composition is done when all boxes are filled, but not exceeding 4 beats per box.
Notes:
--How many dice you have can be a limiting factor on how many students can do at once. I recommend doing in a station format.
--Can be used as part of other composition projects.