Year 9 are studying theme and variations, starting with Mozart's twelve variations on "Ah vous dirai-je, maman" and the minor-key variation in the middle of the set. The teacher gives out the first eight bars of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" in D major as a Sibelius file. Each student writes two variations beneath it: one in D minor, which turns every F sharp into F natural and invites a new ending, and one that keeps the pitches but changes the rhythm with dotted notes or triplets. They play back each variation as they write, changing notes that sound wrong, then add dynamics and a tempo marking. The teacher listens to each file after the lesson and marks it against the department's composing criteria. Last year the same lesson ran in MuseScore on the same computers, with the same file, the same playback and the same marking.
This page is one of a growing set of PICRAT examples by cell, subject and grade. Page maintained by Andy Perryer.