Learning and Leading - November 2012

Improvisation and Composition Activity Types

Sample Improvising Activity Type Description

Improvise a tonal or rhythmic answer to a tonal/
rhythmic prompt
As a beginning improvisatory activity, the teacher,
a fellow student, or another source sings or plays
a melodic or rhythmic pattern, and the student
improvises an original response to that pattern.
Technologies can provide the pattern and/or
a harmonic/rhythmic accompaniment and are
especially helpful for practice.

Description

Students create a variation on a given melody. They can explore alterations of musical elements (pitch, duration, timbre). The SCAMPER technique ( goo.gl/s YCW4) is an effective approach.

Example Technologies Acoustic, electronic, and/or digital instruments; audio recorder; audio recording software; SmartMusic; Band-in-a-Box; commercial audio recordings; mobile apps

Sample Composing Activity Type

Compose a melodic variation

Example Technologies

Acoustic, electronic, and/or digital instruments; music notation software; music production software; mobile apps

Performance Activity Types
Sample Singing Activity Type
Sing with appropriate posture and breath support

Example Technologies Audio/video recorder, audio/video recordings, audio/video textbook supplements

Sample Reading, Notating Music Activity Type Clap/sing with rhythm syllables, sing/play varying rhythm patterns

Description

Singing fundamentals are crucial to successful performance. Technology can be used to monitor and provide feedback on these fundamental skills.

Providing digital audio and/or video models may also be beneficial.

Description Example Technologies

The use of rhythm syllables associated with a specific counting system can assist students in moving from sound to symbol when learning rhythmic notation. Technology can provide a rhythmic/harmonic accompaniment to this process, aural prompts for individual practice, and written notation of rhythm patterns.

Auto-accompaniment software; SmartMusic; audio recordings; acoustic, electronic, and/or digital instruments; mobile apps; music notation software; interactive whiteboards

Analyzing Music Activity Types
Sample Analyzing Activity Type
Describe and discuss structural and expressive
components of music

Sample Evaluating Activity Type Provide constructive suggestions for improvement of a musical performance, improvisation, composition, or arrangement

Description Students aurally and/or visually analyze music to describe and discuss how musical elements (pitch, duration, loudness, timbre, texture, form) relate to a composition’s style and genre. How do composers use musical structures and functions to create expressivity and musical effect? Description Students demonstrate suggestions and/or provide verbal or written feedback designed to improve their own, peers’, and/or group musical outcomes.