A Note to the Teacher.
A completed arrangement of Ludovico Einaudi’s piece Divenire is provided through the various Sibelius files, pdf files, graphic notation and audio tracks attached. It can be played with any combination of classroom instruments such as xylophones as well as other instruments like flutes, trumpets, saxophones. As long as the core parts listed below are covered, any combination of instruments will work. Parts include:
1. Melody
2. Harmony
3. Melody V2
4. Harmony V2
5. Bass (Bordun)
6. Drums
7. Shakers
8. Claves - Note that the V2 are simplified parts and are recommended for
complete beginner players.
The piece is built up of 4 sections:
1) Introduction – includes staggered entry of various parts
2) Bridge & Chorus
3) Improvisation
4) Bridge & Chorus (repeat of section 2)
This piece is a great example for the following musical ideas:
Syncopation - Duration
Layers – Texture
Staggered entry
Direction of melody – Pitch
Dynamics – clear changes and different ‘levels’ – easy to map the course of the piece
- And many more…
Orff Pedagogy:
This piece lends itself to Orff methodologies and could be taught using Orff strategies.
Original arrangement (condensed score) is made for Orff based instruments such as xylophones, marimbas, percussion.
The arrangement is in a natural minor and as a result works well with barred instruments.
Every part can be taught by rote methods and by singing and the transition to the barred instruments would not be too difficult.
Each part is made up of various motifs and patterns as well as being based around a Bordun.
Graphic Notation
There is a graphically notated score for the Melody, Harmony, Bordun and Percussion parts which supports the aural learning and does not require any knowledge of standard notation to participate.
On the right is an example of this notation style.
The Red lines represent a bar in 6/8 time and therefore the 6/8 is divided into 2 parts. This will support the teacher (or student) to count in 2.
The letters correspond to the note names
The green represents a note being played. When a black line divides the green that indicates that the note should be hit again, when there is no line disrupting the green then the note is to be held.
In the more complex parts, the graphic notation looks like this:
Again, the same key applies, but with one exception. Each bar now shows all 6 quaver beats. This is because there are more notes in this part as it is more complex. This shouldn’t be too difficult for students as it is the same idea, but you should still be aware.
Section 3 – Improvisation
This section strays from the original to bring the idea of improvising into the classroom. You should scaffold this with your students according to their prior knowledge and skill level however some suggestions could be:
§ To ensure they know the “safe notes” = A B C D E F G A (A natural minor)
§ Keep the other parts going but make sure students understand the idea of ‘’underscoring” the soloist
§ Discuss the effectiveness of simple ideas in solos and encourage confidence even if the solo is not “extravagant” – the creation is still valid!
§ Repeat this section as much or as little as you would like but try to make sure that every student has a go!
The resource can be accessed here:
Feel free to contact me for more information or if you have any questions
Good luck & Have Fun!