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Eleven-year-old Charlotte-Rose Scowcroft is making waves in the world of young composers. A student at Stalybridge Music Academy since the age of four, Charlotte-Rose is not only a talented multi-instrumentalist but also a budding composer creating music specifically for young learners.
"I love writing music for younger children," says Charlotte-Rose, "because it makes me happy and proud to know that they enjoy it. I hope my music helps them discover the joy of playing and learning new skills."
Meet the Composer
My name is Charlotte-Rose Scowcroft, and I am 11 years old. I have been coming to Stalybridge Music Academy since I was 4 years old, starting my musical journey learning ukulele, before progressing to recorder, flute and then piano. I have recently taken my Grade 5 piano exam, and I discovered that I could play one of my exam pieces on piano, flute, recorder and ukulele. That inspired me to compose a piece for younger children that could be played on multiple instruments.
I love writing music for younger children because it makes me happy and proud to know that children like and enjoy my music. I also want to help others to experience the joy of music and to be able to learn new skills such as playing staccato notes and practising chords.
Level 1 Achieve: Max is Here. TQ Piano
"Max is Here", a vibrant composition in C Major, was penned by Charlotte-Rose during her early foray into musical composition as a student project for Level 1 Achieve. The piece, characterized by its lively melody and dynamic contrasts, was inspired by "Max the big orange dragon who likes making loud sounds." This early work in the program's development cleverly incorporates both dynamics and chords, introducing young learners to these fundamental musical concepts.
Since its release, "Max is Here" has resonated with numerous students, its catchy tune and engaging theme capturing their imaginations. The piece's popularity and educational value prompted the creation of a follow-up composition, "Max Likes Pizza," designed for Level 2 Achieve. This subsequent piece builds upon the musical foundations laid in "Max is Here," further developing students' musical skills and understanding while maintaining the engaging theme of Max the dragon.
The success of "Max is Here" and its sequel illustrates the effectiveness of incorporating relatable characters and storylines into music education. By weaving these elements into the learning process, Charlotte-Rose has created a captivating and enjoyable musical experience for young learners, fostering a love for music while simultaneously imparting valuable musical knowledge and skills.
Level 2 Achieve: Max Likes Pizza. TQ Piano
"Max Likes Pizza" was composed as a follow-up exercise for a student who had shown interest in songwriting and musical composition. This Level 2 Achieve piece uses chords and confident quavers to further enhance Max's character. The new melody contained another catchy and repetitive motif and the chordal character that featured in "Max is Here" was utilized here with the new level 2 notes. The added use of the sostenuto (sustain) pedal brought new musical characteristics.
An additional educational benefit of this exercise was to introduce the student to the fundamental concepts of lyric writing and how it interacts with musical structures. This skill is essential for aspiring composers who wish to write songs for existing melodies or collaborate with other musicians who have already composed the music.
Free Download for Piano
Max Likes Pizza (Lanadscape)
Level 2 Achieve: Let's Fly. TQ Piano
'Let's Fly' follows on from 'Max Likes Pizza' by including lyrics and a catchy motif for each Dragon friend.
Let’s Fly commences in G major and then moves to D major. The concept was to write a piece that could be played on multiple instruments. The choice was made to write in two contrasting sections to represent the dragons Sonia and Samson.
Sonia - G major
The sections needed to be light and fun, initially G major known for its bright and cheerful character, was chosen to represent the playful and energetic nature of Sonia.
Samson - D major
In contrast, the key of D major, which can evoke feelings of grandeur and triumph, was selected to capture the more bold and triumphant aspects of Samson's personality.
These characteristics describe the dragons well. The musical composition "Let's Fly" was meticulously crafted in two distinct sections, each employing a different tonality to musically portray the contrasting personalities of the two dragons, Sonia . .
The deliberate use of these two specific keys served a dual purpose: to create a light and airy atmosphere that embodied the sense of flight and freedom associated with dragons, while also subtly weaving in deeper emotional undertones that hinted at the dragons' potential for power and intensity. This juxtaposition of contrasting musical elements allowed for a richer and more nuanced listening experience, inviting the audience to connect with the dragons on multiple levels.
"Let's Fly" was intentionally composed to be playable on a variety of instruments, ensuring its accessibility and versatility. This inclusive approach to instrumentation reflects the composer's desire to share the music with as wide an audience as possible, enabling musicians of diverse backgrounds and skill levels to experience the joy and wonder of the dragons' flight through their own personal interpretation and performance.
Free Download for Piano
Let's Fly (Portrait)
Let's Fly (Landscape)
Level 2 Achieve. Let's Fly: TQ Flute
Hello my name is Charlotte-Rose and today we are going to be playing ‘Let’s Fly!’. I wrote this piece for piano, but the melody can be played on many different instruments. I am going to play it on the flute in this video.
This piece has two repeats so listen out for them and if you are playing along, remember to follow the signs. This piece features dynamics and they are forte - which means loud - mezzo forte - which means moderately loud - and fortissimo - which means very loud.
Level 2 Achieve. Let's Fly: TQ Ukulele
Hello my name is Charlotte-Rose and today we are going to be playing ‘Let’s Fly!’. I wrote this piece for piano, but the melody can be played on many different instruments. I am going to play it on the ukulele in this video.
This piece has two repeats so listen out for them and if you are playing along, remember to follow the signs. This piece features dynamics and they are forte - which means loud - mezzo forte - which means moderately loud - and fortissimo - which means very loud.
Today I am using notation, however if you want to use TAB, all of the details to download are below.
Level 2 Achieve. Let's Fly: TQ Piano
Hello my name is Charlotte-Rose and today we are going to be playing ‘Let’s Fly!’. I wrote this piece for piano, but the melody can be played on many different instruments. I am going to play it on the piano in this video, the instrument it was originally written for.
This piece has two repeats so listen out for them and if you are playing along,
remember to follow the signs. This piece also features dynamics and they are forte - which means loud - mezzo forte - which means moderately loud - and fortissimo - which means very loud. Also remember to follow the 8vb signs under the left hand part, which tell you when to play something an octave lower and for how long.