A complete Grade 1 composition lesson using the two-stage framework fits comfortably into a standard forty-five to fifty minute music lesson. Stage 1 — introducing the stimulus, exploring sounds as a class, and creating and performing the class composition — typically takes fifteen to twenty minutes. Stage 2 — introducing iconic notation, completing the class score, and moving to individual or pair instrument work — takes a further twenty to twenty-five minutes, with the final five minutes reserved for sharing and performance.

If you are working with shorter lesson blocks, Stage 1 alone makes a complete and satisfying lesson in its own right, with Stage 2 following in the next session. The two stages are designed to work together, but each is coherent as a standalone experience.