How Children Learn to Compose Their Own Music in Let’s Play Music

At the end of their Let’s Play Music journey, students do something truly special.

They create their own music.

After years of learning through singing, movement, listening, music theory, ear training, and piano, students bring their musical knowledge together to create an original composition inspired by a story.

This culminating experience gives children a chance to see just how much they have learned—and to use those skills in a creative way.

What Does Composition Mean?

The word composition means “to place with.”

In Let’s Play Music, students gather the musical elements they have learned and “place” them together to create a song of their own.

But they don't simply choose random notes.

Their composition begins with a story.

That story becomes the inspiration behind the musical choices they make.

Turning a Story Into Music

How can a child make music sound like a story?

Students use the musical tools they have learned throughout the program to bring their ideas to life.

They decide on:

• A time signature

• A chord pattern

• A melody

• A key signature

• A chord style

• A tempo

• Dynamics

• Articulation

• Octaves

  
  

Each choice helps create the feeling of their story.

A fast tempo might create excitement. A slower tempo may create a calm or thoughtful mood. Changes in dynamics can make a musical moment feel bigger or more dramatic. The melody and chords help bring everything together.

Little by little, students discover that music can communicate an idea—even without words.

Bringing Years of Learning Together

Composition is the culminating exercise of the Let’s Play Music program because it brings together so many skills students have learned along the way.

By the time students begin creating their final compositions, they already have experience with rhythm, melody, harmony, chords, keys, and musical expression.

Now, instead of simply practicing these skills individually, they get to make choices and use them together.

It's an opportunity for students to move from learning music to creating music.

The Final Recital

The experience comes full circle at the final recital.

Each student performs their original composition for an audience.

It is an incredible opportunity to see everything their child has learned come together.

The child who once began by singing songs, playing musical games, and exploring the piano is now able to make musical choices and perform an original piece of music.

It's an amazing display of how far students have come during their Let’s Play Music journey.

More Than Playing the Right Notes

Learning music isn't only about learning to play someone else's songs.

At Let’s Play Music, students are given the tools to understand music and eventually use those tools to create something of their own.

Composition gives children the opportunity to bring together their knowledge, creativity, and imagination.

They aren't just playing the music.

They are creating it.

Discover Composition Throughout Let’s Play Music

Composition begins long before the final recital.

Throughout each year of the Let’s Play Music program, students are introduced to new musical concepts and creative opportunities that help build the skills they will eventually use to create their own music.

Want to hear the amazing music created by our students?

Click the button below to read the blog posts featuring our Composition Contest winners and their winning compositions from each year!

Composition contest blog post