Grade Level: 7 - 12
Curriculum Area: Language Arts, General Music
Time: 5 - 10 days
Materials: Band in a Box™ Music Software, music sequencing software, computers, various MIDI keyboards, various song books with chord progressions.
Telecommunication Resources: Online Lyric Server; discussion sites on various musical elements (i.e. form, style, structure, etc.).
Major Objectives:
- to utilize technology in assisting students with and with out musical background to participate and create a musical composition.
- to analyze lyrics from popular songs and poetry for content, rhythmic pentameter, form, style, and overall theme/message.
- to collaboratively write song lyrics based on a popular theme utilizing the song structure of several verses and a repeating chorus.
- to learn basic elements of song chord structure and musical form, recombining (recycle) these elements using different musical styles.
- to learn basic elements of melody and the integration of lyrics.
Summary:
Students, through utilizing various resources, will learn about the artistry of songwriting in comparison and relation to poetry. Students will be presented examples of poetry and popular music. Through the use of the Online Lyric Server, students will find lyrics to popular songs to use as examples of writing. Lyrics must be appropriate and acceptable for use in class. Students will discuss the various elements involved in the compositions and the ideas the composers/authors are portraying. Students based on examples presented, will write several verses with a repeating chorus by working in small collaborative groups.
The second element involves assembling the musical accompaniment. Students, with varied levels of musical knowledge, will learn about basic elements of music structure: melody, harmony, chordal progression, and style/rhythm. Using Band in a Box™ students will enter chordal progressions from a popular song. Students will experiment with different voicings and rhythmic styles, changing the characteristics of the pieces. Much like popular artists of today who's first hits are remakes of past artists or 'sounds like' another song, students will be able to manipulate the song enough to make the song original. Students will be responsible for establishing the correct amount of verses and choruses to match the lyrics.
The final element is the incorporation of the lyrics into the song structure/ arrangement. Students will experiment with adding melody (the lyrics) above the chordal structure. Students will rehearse arrangements for presentation to peers.
Assessment:
Students will display knowledge of subject area through the completion of the described project. Students will hand in copies of printed lyrics as established in the song structure. Lyrics will be checked for content, rhythmic pentameter, form, style, and overall theme/message.
Students musical arrangements will also be checked for overall quality and understanding of musical concepts. At the conclusion of this project, students will give performances of the final arrangement. Performances will be recorded and presented to each student. Performances excelling in all aspects of musical composition may be used for public performances.
