Short Composition Tasks
Putting it together: writing short, complete musical answers using the theory from this grade.
This chapter has been retired. When the Music Theory track was rewritten (Aug 2026) to match the current Theory Packs, free-standing composition tasks were replaced by Grade 3's four new topics — chords, cadences, modulation and form — each with its own composing prompt. Head to Grade 3 to see them, or to Composing for more composing ideas.
Explainer
This is where all your theory becomes music. Short composition tasks ask you to write a few original bars using the ideas you've learned.
Keep it simple: a clear key, a steady time signature, mostly stepwise movement, and an ending on the tonic.
Give your melody a shape — a small rise to a high point, then a settle back down to rest.
Worked examples
A four-bar melody in C major
Stay in the key, move mostly by step, and finish on C (the tonic).
Using a scale degree on purpose
Try building a phrase that climbs from the tonic to the dominant (1 to 5), then returns.
Checking your work
Play or sing it back. Does it stay in the key? Does it end feeling settled?