Help with Music Theory project...

[Andy43]

So, for my music theory class I have to write a 64 bar piano quintet consisting of a piano, violin, viola, cello, and bass. I think it's pretty obvious to come up with the main chord progression for piano first, and then fill in the gaps with the other instruments. But the thing is, I don't know where to start. And what should the certain instruments play? You see, I don't listen too THAT much classical music, so I'm near clueless for this project. And 64 bars!

I'll appreciate any tips people have for this.

[Drew]

Just dive in and start doing it. It's like writing any other song - find a melody that moves you, then make the instrumentation support it.

FWIW, I wrote most of my music composition peices on guitar before I arranged them for other instruments, because that was the instrument I'd had the most experience writing on.

Does the peice HAVE to be classical, or are you just assuming that due to the instrumentation?