Music Composition using the Internet

Patricia Eppedico-Cirillo
pcirillo@queensburyschool.org
Queensbury Union Free School District

TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:

Information Processing

Level:

Middle School

Class:

Instrumental

Equipment:

Internet access

Duration:

Five class periods Minutes

Prior Knowledge and Skills:

Ability to access information on the Internet

MENC Standards Addressed:

MENC 2: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
MENC 4: Composing and Arranging Music within specified guidelines.
MENC 5: Reading and notating music.
MENC 6: Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
MENC 7: Evaluating music and music performances.

Materials:

Projector and screen, computer lab, Internet access

Objectives:

The students will be able to compose their own original melody, using finale notepad, given specific guidelines after reviewing basic theory concepts and musical terms during class.

Procedures:

Day 1. Review basic music theory using the www.sfskids.org website.
Go to music lab.
Go through the basics, tempo, rhythm, pitch and symbols sections.

Day 2. Familiarize the students with finale notepad.
Go to www.codamusic.com to download a free version of finale notepad.
Go through what finale notepad has to offer and familiarize the students with the website.

Day 3-5. Students work in the lab on their own.
Hand out the composition assignment and include guidelines: length of piece, range of notes, what specific concepts (musical terms) they must include and what can be optional, you may also want to list the note values and rhythms the students will be allowed to use and what note values and rhythms they are required to use. Students must use finale notepad to compose their piece.
Include on the assignment the required websites, www.codamusic.com and www.sfskids.org.
Additional websites for help, theory review and fun:
1.http://www.naxos.com/mgloss.htm is a glossary of musical terms that provides the word and the definition of the term.
2.http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz.cfm?qid=156454&origin=http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/music/other_music/music_theory.html
3.http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz.cfm?qid=41113&origin=http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/music/other_music/music_theory.html.

Evaluation:

The students will hand in an original composition written for their instrument done on finale notepad. They will be evaluated on the content included, how well they followed directions and how musical their piece is. They will also be evaluated on their ability to play their composition.

Follow Up:

Students can perform their compositions during music and arts nights, assemblies, concerts, or during class, etc. You can expand on the idea and have them compose in groups. You can also give students a theme and have them begin thinking about variations as another lesson in theory/composition.