FrankenChunk

Lou Ianello
ianellol@newtown.k12.ct.us
Newtown Public Schools

TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:

Electronic Musical Instruments
Sequencing
Multimedia/Digital Media
Internet

Level:

All Levels

Class:

All Classes

Equipment:

MIDI sequencer, MIDI files

Duration:

60 Minutes

Prior Knowledge and Skills:

ability to select and play MIDI files
general knowledge of copy/paste commands
ability to identify melody, harmony, bass and rhythm

MENC Standards Addressed:

MENC 4: Composing and Arranging Music within specified guidelines.
MENC 6: Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
MENC 7: Evaluating music and music performances.

Materials:

8 songs in MIDI format
MIDI sequencing software

Objectives:

Students will create a new song using specific parts taken from other compositions.

Procedures:

Students will listen to 8 songs in MIDI format, these can be downloaded off the internet in previous lessons(20min for 2 min sequences).

Students will put these songs in order from ‘best to worst’ based on the quality of the composition as well as the quality of the performance(5 min).

Students will create a new sequence(1 min).

Students will copy a melody from one of the 8 songs and paste it into the new sequence. Students will then copy harmony, bass and rhythm parts from 3 of the other 7 songs and paste them into the new sequence to create a new composition using musical problem solving and musical decision making skills(30 min).

Evaluation:

basic – all the parts are there

proficient – all the parts are there and they sound good together

advanced – all the parts are there, they sound good together, other creative parts have been added and there is a definite beginning, middle and end

Follow Up:

Listen to finished FrankenChunks for class to identify parts

Use only ‘spooky’ MIDI files for your next FrankenChunk

For advanced students do a FrankenChunk using orchestral MIDI files

or a FrankenChunk using MIDI files in 8 different styles

etc.