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.