What are graphic

scores?

Lesson 1 - Graphic scores

LO: To use musical notations and perform.

• A graphic score is a

way in which a

composer can

compose a piece

without using

common music

notation.

Using Symbols to represent

instruments

• When using a graphic score, you need to assign each instrument a symbol.

• The symbols can be simple or complicated, it is up to you!

• Each symbol should be different so that the score is easy to read.

What does the score look like?

• Once you have chosen your symbols, you will

need to put your symbols into a score. How

would this sound?

Triangle Bells Drum

El Jarabe Tapatio

Listen to the following piece of

music. In your draft books, make a

note of any instruments you

hear…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=q-Rqdgna3Yw

Discuss…

Did you identify the following instruments?...

Guitar?

Trumpet and violin?

This week we will work as

a class to compose a piece

of music to play alongside

El Jarabe Tapatio.

We will use percussion instruments.

Next week we will use our

composition to create

a graphic score.

What are percussion instruments?...

Now let’s think about how

we can play our percussion

alongside El Jarabe Tapatio.

(Small groups, 4 instruments per group – 1 section of music per group)

Practise, then perform and record.

Lesson 2 – Graphic Scores

LO: To use and understand musical notations

and graphic scores.

Think back to last week’s lesson.

How could we display our percussion on

a graphic score, so that someone else could

play along?

Have a look at this graphic score…

What does it tell you? How would this piece

of music sound?

Remind yourselves of last week’s

composition. Let’s remind ourselves of the music…

Think carefully about when you played or when

you had to pause.

What symbol will represent your instrument?

Can you create a graphic score to represent

your group composition?