8th Grade Music

August 14 to October 6

Our first unit will cover some musical rule-breaking: how composers are risk-takers, and how this helps create new eras and genres of music. Using singing, ukulele, keyboard, and our new classroom percussion, we will work towards our summative task: a 12-tone composition.  

Inquiry Questions:

1. What are some historic rules of making music

2. How do different compositional rules show up in different musical eras?

3. Should musicians push boundaries, or stick to what works? 

ATL Skills:

• Creative Thinking: In order to compose a 12-tone composition, you will need to use Critical Thinking skills. You will specifically use the skill of applying existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. We will make sure you are successful by having weekly check-ins to review material and help you remember terms. 

• Affective: In order to compose a 12-tone composition, you will need to use Affective Skills. You will specifically use the skill of practicing focus and concentration. We will make sure you are successful by having a clear pathway to completing the summative assessment, with time in class to complete tasks one at a time.

• Reflection: In order to complete your self-evaluation for the summative task, you will need to use Reflection Skills. You will specifically use the skill of identifying strengths and weaknesses of personal learning strategies. We will make sure you are successful by having guided reflection activities where you learn how to judge your own performance. 

Summative Task:

Step 1: You will create a tone row using all twelve tones. 

Step 2: You will create a rhythm of at least 8 measures. 

Step 3: Plug your tone row into Chrome Music Lab. Then retrograde--turn your tone row around. 

Step 4: Choose your instrumentation and tempo. 

Step 5: Present your composition to the class.

Step 6: You will reflect on the experience you had creating a composition.