Minimalist music uses a pattern of notes which is repeated over and over again.
To make their music interesting minimalist composers put a very slight change in the pattern when it has been repeated about 10 times. Now, the new pattern is repeated about 10 times after which another change is put in etc. Eventually you end up with something which sounds completely different to the first musical pattern you started out with.
Listen to this piece of minimalist music from Steve Reich. Notice how the piece ends up starting from something very simple to something more complex when all the different patterns are added.
Task: to make up your own minimalistic piece of music.
1. make up a pattern of notes using just 2 or 3 notes.
2. repeat the pattern 10 times.
3. put a small change in (a new rhythm, an extra note etc.)
4. when you have done this 3 or 4 times, think of an ending.
