Ringtones

Introduce the topic: “We are going to compose cellphone ringtones”.
Listen to some well-known ringtones (select a few from your cellphone). Below I selected a few from my iPhone. Listen and discuss, e.g.:
Play the ringtone, have students identify the instrument, pattern, rhythm, melody and/or any other descriptors:
Ascending: ascending major scale on xylophone
Bell Tower: classic bell/chime melody
Marimba: short, catchy pattern on marimba
Piano riff: five melody notes on piano
Timba: drumming pattern, no melody
Xylophone: short melody, catchy rhythm on xylophone 

• Display the notation and practice one or two of the ringtones OR
• Listen to the ringtones and try to notate the ringtone with your students.
• End this explorative phase with quick Q & A: how long are the little
  melodies? How many instruments are used per melody? Etc. 

1. This lesson can be introduced in two ways:
   
   1. Provide a sample ringtone to develop
      Students use a given ringtone, e.g. “Marimba” or “Timba” to inspire the composition of a “variation” ringtone. They use a given instrument, select the notes for a melody, select note values made into one or two rhythms, and through explorative play and improvisation come up with a short 5 – 10 tone ringtone. Depending on the age group and ability, these compositions may simply be recorded or otherwise notated.
      
   2. Guided composition of a new ringtone
      Provide a rubric. Students generate a completely new ringtone based on the parameters. Teachers, generate the rubric based on your curriculum; note values you’re studying in class, note names you’re learning, etc. 
      Ringtones are 30 seconds max.
      Ringtones “loop”: make sure beginnings and endings match to link.