CREATIVE WRITING
A Story in the Music
Musical storytelling invites several valid responses. A student’s story does not need to match a composer’s original program or the teacher’s imagined scene.
Customize this worksheet ↗TRY IT WITH YOUR CLASS
One clear focus.
Listen to a piece of music. Use what you hear to inspire your story.
- Imagine this music is the soundtrack to a story. Describe the setting and main character.
- Write a short story. Use a change in tempo or dynamics to inspire what happens next.
A simple way to teach it
- Listen without sharing a plot first. Ask students to jot down or draw a setting and character.
- Choose a writing prompt and adjust the answer space. Younger students can draw and dictate; older students can explain musical connections.
- Replay the excerpt and ask students to let a musical change influence one event in their story.
Take it a little further
Have students underline a story moment inspired by tempo or dynamics, then explain the connection to a partner.
Adapt before printing.
Open the starter, choose the grade band, then check the reading level and answer space for your class. Each printed page is US Letter. Choose 100% print scale and turn off browser headers and footers.
Make this worksheet yours →