Take a “Chance”
Angie Vaughn
[email protected]
Old Rochester Regional Junior High School
TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:
Electronic Musical Instruments
Level:
Middle School
Class:
General Music
Equipment:
Casio Keyboards with General MIDI
Duration:
70 Minutes
Prior Knowledge and Skills:
Students should be familiar with the electronic keyboard basic operation and know how to select various instruments and styles.
MENC Standards Addressed:
MENC 2: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
MENC 3: Improvising melodies, harmonies, and accompaniments.
MENC 9: Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture
Materials:
One small box containing potential composition “Titles”. (i.e. “Wind”, “Day at the Beach”, “Dinnertime”, etc.) One small box containing the numbers 1 thru 128 labeled “Instruments”. One small box containing the numbers 1 thru 140 labeled “Styles”.
Objectives:
At the end of this lesson students will be able to: 1. accurately define “aleatoric” music. 2. demonstrate understanding by explaining the importance of order in music. 3. create and perform an aleatoric piece on the electronic keyboard which reflects the selected title. 4. explain their piece in terms of elements of chance and elements of order.
Procedures:
1. Define and explain “aleatoric” music and its significance as a 20th century genre. (Include reference to composers and specific aleatoric compositions as time allows.) 2. Discuss the need for order in music. 3. Using the labeled boxes, have students randomly select the title of their piece as well as the instrument and style to be used. 4. Discuss musical elements still at the discretion of the performer (i.e. tempo, rhythm, dynamics) 5. Allow students sufficient time to experiment and practice keeping in mind the title of their piece. 6. Have students perform pieces for the class.
Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated on the objectives as follows: 1. accurately define “aleatoric” music. (0 – 10 points) 2. demonstrate understanding by explaining the importance of order in music. (0 – 10 points) 3. create and perform an aleatoric piece on the electronic keyboard which reflects the selected title. (0 – 20 points) 4. explain their piece in terms of elements of chance and elements of order. (0 – 10 points.)
Follow Up:
1. Create other “chance” pieces varying the elements of chance and the elements of order. 2. Use traditional or non-traditional methods to “notate” pieces.
