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There are many different ways to extend the life of a simple tune! Some activities are very simple, while others are quite challenging.
Try these different ways of playing tunes you know:
Change the Rhythm
- Put a ti-ti at the start of every bar.
- Play ti-ti instead of taa through the whole piece.
- Change the time signature.
- Play it as a waltz (in 3/4 time).
- Play it as a march (crisp and strict).
- Play it jazzy (Swing the Rhythm).
- Play it straight.
- Add an extra note to every bar.
- Change one note in each bar to a rest.
- Leave one note out in every bar.
- Repeat every note.
Change the Tune
- Play it in a different key.
- Play it on a different string.
- Play the same rhythm but different notes.
- Substitute a new note for one of the notes. For example, play G’s instead of A’s through the whole piece.
- Play it backwards.
- Change octaves on each note.
- Substitute different notes.
- Play it upside down – notes that go down go up and notes that go up go down the same interval.
- Improvise a middle section.
- Change major to minor or minor to major.
- Play the tune to the rhythm of another song.
Change the style
- Play it happy, sad, angry, playfully etc.
- Play it like your favourite animal (an elephant, a lion, a bird etc.)
- Play it with all short notes.
- Play it all slurred.
- Sing every second note.
Play with friends
- Perform it as a round.
- Play one bar each.
- Perform it as a hocket (one note each).
- Make up a second part and harmonize.
- One person plays the piece forwards while the other person plays it backwards.
- Play it with just the fingering – can your friend guess which tune you are playing?
- Make up a percussion part and play together.
- Make up actions and dance while the other person plays.
- Dance it together.
- Record your ideas and make a CD.
Click for a simple set of Variations on Hot Cross Buns for your instrument to play, print or save to your computer.
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