Project : Small Ensemble Pop Song Arrangement -
- In small groups pick a simple pop song with no more than 4 chords.
- Figure out the chord progression of your song, either by ear or using the internet
- Figure out how to play the melody of the song
- In your group arrange the pop song so that the chord progression is clearly represented by the instruments in your group. And that the melody will be clearly heard on top of the chord progression.
- Chord progression should be simple rhythmically in order to be heard
- Notate your arrangement using music notation software (Finale, Sibelius etc.)
- Perform your arrangement for the class
- Create or learn a harmony, bassline and percussion part for your song.
- (Potential extension talk about how to arrange the song for the whole class to play)
Theory required for this project:
- Triads (Knowing which three notes make up each chord)
- Keys (Knowing which notes are in the key of the song in order to play the melody)
- Transposition (In order for each instrument to “sound” in the same key they music transpose the notes for their instrument)
- Simple Rhythm ( In order to play melody, they need an understanding of the rhythm of the original song)
- Music notation standards and practices (knowing how to write rhythms and pitch in music notation)
- Using Music Notation Software
- Basic harmony
Project : Composition - Improvisational Inspiration Project
- Teacher shows various images, poems, story, commercial, print advertisement etc.
- Students interpret what they are feeling/experiencing through the inspiration item they were shown.
- Students begin to compose music that communicates what they saw, heard, felt, etc.
- Students must be aware of the elements of music:
Rhythm: (beat, meter, tempo, syncopation, polyrhythm)
Dynamics: (crescendo, decrescendo; forte, piano, etc.)
Melody: (pitch, range, theme)
Harmony: (chord, progression, key, tonality, consonance, dissonance)
Tone color: (register, range)
Texture: (monophonic, polyphonic, homophonic)
Form: (binary, ternary, strophic, etc.)
Theory required for this project:
- Triads (Knowing which three notes make up each chord)
- Keys (Knowing which notes are in the key of the song in order to play the melody)
- Major, minor keys (perhaps modes, in order to evoke different emotions)
- Transposition (In order for each instrument to “sound” in the same key they music transpose the notes for their instrument)
- Simple Rhythm ( In order to play melody, they need an understanding of the rhythm of the original song)
- Music notation standards and practices (knowing how to write rhythms and pitch in music notation)
- Using Music Notation Software
- Basic harmony
Project : Form Research/Composition -
- Students will find and research a musical form, approved by the teacher. Preferably historical, but can be from any country.
- Students will do some research to understand what is involved with this compositional form.
- Students will then compose using technology an example of this musical form.
- Students can use existing music, cut it up and move it around to match their compositional form.
- OR they may use midi to create their own ideas and sounds to communicate what they have learned through their research.
- Students will present their form, (i.e. powerpoint, prezi etc.) And play for the class their composition, students will guide the listeners through the listening so all students understand where the form was. Students may use pictures or diagrams to make sure everyone follows their compositional structure.
Project : Compose/Arrange a song for one of our extra curricular music groups-
- In small groups pick a song, or compose your own song
- Figure out the chord progression of your song, either by ear or using the internet
- Figure out how to play the melody of the song
- In your group arrange the pop song so that the chord progression is clearly represented by the instruments in your group. And that the melody will be clearly heard on top of the chord progression.
- Chord progression should be simple rhythmically in order to be heard
- Notate your arrangement using music notation software (Finale, Sibelius etc.)
- Perform your arrangement for the class
- Create or learn a harmony, bassline and percussion part for your song.
- (Potential extension talk about how to arrange the song for the whole class to play)
Theory required for this project:
- Triads (Knowing which three notes make up each chord)
- Complex chords (Maj7, Min7, Dom7, dim7)
- Keys (Knowing which notes are in the key of the song in order to play the melody)
- Transposition (In order for each instrument to “sound” in the same key they music transpose the notes for their instrument)
- Simple Rhythm ( In order to play melody, they need an understanding of the rhythm of the original song)
- Music notation standards and practices (knowing how to write rhythms and pitch in music notation)
- Using Music Notation Software
- Basic harmony
Music analysis sharing-
- Students will lead a “purposeful listening” activity where they will show other students music they appreciate.
- Students will guide listeners with things to listen for, which will demonstrate their understanding of course content and concepts.
- Students will lead guided listening 3 times throughout the semester.
- Song 1 - Anything of your choice
- Song 2 - Song from List 1
- Song 3 - Song from List 2
Solo performance:
Practice portfolio - Students will choose music weekly/bi weekly, that they want to learn individually, this can be provided by the teacher or found by the student. Some weeks this may mean a random pop melody that you wish to learn, and some weeks it may be thematic based on what we are doing in class. Students may use the songs from their portfolio for midterm and final performance evaluations.
- Students will perform solo material before midterm and before final evaluations;
- Students with the help of the teacher will choose challenging material for each solo which interests the students and challenges their playing ability.
- These songs are to be worked on for several weeks, demonstrating students ability to work towards a goal and demonstrating students ability to practice.
Analysis:
- Form and structure analysis
- Purposeful listening and score analysis
- Time period history (Baroque and Classical)
Theory for Grade 11 Music:
- Key Signatures
- Relative Major/Minor Keys
- Transposition for Instruments
- Triads
- Keys/Chord progressions
- Time signatures
- Major and Minor Intervals
- Popular Chord symbols