EASE: Unit 3

Composing with Instrument Cards, as demonstrated in Instrument Cards: Expert Students, is like writing and reading.
• We write and read from left to right, in a predictable manner.
• We compose and read music from left to right, in a predictable manner.

The leader (composer) chooses how many cards to post in a row.

Post cards high up; make sure the leader’s body isn’t blocking the cards.

As the leader points to each card in sequence, from left to right, students make the sounds on the cards.

• Slow, steady, predictable. Point to each card in a slow, steady, predictable manner. We’re not trying to trick anyone!

Repeat steps 1-3 with a new leader (for example, a student).

Adjust which instruments students have based on what cards have been posted.

• Option 1 – Continuous Sound (Easier): Students keep playing the instrument until the next card is pointed to.
• Option 2 – One Sound Per Card (More Challenging): Students make one sound per card, i.e., four cards = four sounds.

1. Compose with one type of card

2. Introduce “TRICKY NO SOUND” cards with one type of instrument card

3. Compose with two types of cards (1/2 of  the players get 1 kind of instrument, 1/2 get the other)
4. Compose with two or more types of sound cards, plus TRICKY NO SOUND cards