Will Hay

Autumn Leaves

A creative composition project

Autumn Leaves is a creative piano project in which students compose their own music from a simple starting point. It combines listening, improvising, composing, performing and gradually writing musical ideas down.

1

What are we doing?

Will explains the project, demonstrating how a student might improvise, develop and write down an 8 bar melody

2

How the project works

Explore

Students begin by experimenting with notes and rhythms, usually using notes from A minor.

Create

A short musical idea begins to emerge. This may start as a simple 8-bar melody.

Develop

Ideas can be repeated, changed, answered, played higher or lower, or developed into a duet.

Record

Once ideas become clearer, students can record them using letter names, a simple grid or musical notation.

3

Choose a pathway

8-bar composition

  • A short complete piece
  • 4/4 time
  • Start and finish on A
  • A clear musical idea

24-bar ABA composition

ABA
  • A: main musical idea
  • B: something different
  • A: the opening returns
  • A longer, more developed piece
4

It can become a duet

Autumn Leaves does not have to stay as a solo. In lessons we may improvise across two pianos, build an accompaniment, or turn a musical idea into a duet for two performers.

One pianist might play the composed melody while another creates an accompaniment, or two players might improvise and respond to one another before deciding which ideas they want to keep.

5

Writing ideas down

Full notation is not required straight away. Younger students can use letter names or a simple composition grid. More advanced students can write their music more fully or create a score digitally.

The aim is to capture a musical idea once it begins to take shape, rather than letting notation become a barrier to creativity.

6

Resources

8-bar guide trackPractise and improvise with the short version. 24-bar ABA guide trackDevelop a longer A–B–A composition. 8-bar composition gridUse letter names, rhythm marks or reminders. 24-bar ABA composition gridPlan the A, B and returning A sections. NoteflightCreate a conventional musical score online. Autumn Leaves project sheetDownload the original project guide.
7

Autumn Leaves in progress

Composition develops gradually. Short recordings from lessons can help students and parents hear how an idea changes from week to week.

Example

Finding the first idea

A short melody begins to emerge through experimenting with notes, rhythm and repetition.

Listen
Example

Improvising together

Student and teacher respond to one another across two pianos, developing listening and musical conversation.

Listen
Example

Adding an accompaniment

The original melody is played with a second piano part, turning the composition into an ensemble piece.

Listen

Examples captured during lessons

8

How parents can help

  • Encourage regular experimenting at the piano.
  • Listen to short ideas without worrying about perfection.
  • Help students save and revisit recordings of their progress.
  • Celebrate musical choices, curiosity and creativity.