Melody Spelling - Explanation and Demonstration

Hot Cross Buns	Jingle Bells	This Old Man
Mary Had a Little Lamb

Writing away from an instrument is something that many music students associate with genius: think of Tom Hulce as Mozart, composing at the billiard table in Amadeus.

However, Stephen Foster did the same thing, and he was no Mozart (Foster wrote simple, folk-like tunes such as "I Dream of Jeannie," "My Old Kentucky Home," and "Campdown Races"). If Stephen Foster could jot down a simple melody away from an instrument, anybody can.

The examples that launch from this page show just how manageable this task can be.

The idea is to fool around with the first two measures of the three tunes at the top, then use that experience to help write "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

Don't mind Mozart's grumpy wisecracks!

Copyright 2008 David B. Waller