Musical Instruments

AIM: To show students that music is all around us and can be created
using any items and can be done by anyone
GOAL: To allow students to use their creativity to create a musical
instrument and to use their musical knowledge in doing simple
compositions
GRADE LEVEL: General music classes for 8 through 12 grades

PROBLEM: The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra is looking to
replace all of their instruments with new, innovative instruments, which
have nonstandard notation. The symphony will be auditioning
inventors/composers of these nonstandard instruments in two
weeks. To audition an inventor/composer must have the following
prepared. 1) A prototype of an instrument that is in good working
order, and can be used in performance. 2) Notation for the instrument
that is complete, nonstandard, and written down, which will be used
for playing the instrument. 3) A short musical composition using
nonstandard notation. The composition will be performed on the
instrument by the composer/inventor.

PROBLEM CONDITIONS:
The students will each invent a musical instrument, which can be
played by them
The assignment will be due on __________ which allows two weeks for
completion
The students will each write a short report on what the instrument is
made of and how the instrument was put together
The students will each invent a new nonstandard notation for music
which can be used to perform pieces on their instrument
The students will each compose a short piece which uses their new
notation and perform it before the class
The report will be typed while the notation and musical composition will
be neatly handwritten
Students will not be able to invest money in their instruments, they must
use items they own already
This project will count as 25% of their grade for the current grading
period

PROBLEM PARAMETERS:
1. The instrument can be made of anything(s) used by the
inventor/composer in everyday life, but it cannot be of an offensive
nature.
2. No extra money can be spent on the instrument. It must be made
of an item(s) found in the inventor/composers possession.
3. The notation must be written down, it cannot be standard musical
notation, and must be readable so others can follow it.
4. The musical composition must be at least 30 second in length, but
not more than two minutes long. It must be written down and use the
nonstandard musical notation developed by the inventor/composer.
5. The nonstandard notation and musical composition must be written
down neatly so it can be photocopied and handed out to the class.
6. The inventor/composer must present the following at the time of
their presentation:
An instrument they created with standards in Number 1 and 2 above
A half page typed report explaining how the instrument works and what it is
made of
A sheet containing the nonstandard notation used for playing the instrument
A written out composition for the instrument using the nonstandard notation
Note: The inventor/composer must perform the composition on their
instrument for the class.

PROCESS SKILLS:
Performance skills and self-confidence
Reading and writing musical notation
Creativity and imagination

Evaluation: If students are not prepared for the class when they are
asked to play, an automatic letter grade will be deducted from their
final grade for this project.
All reports will be typed and ready for handing in. A handwritten report
or a report with excessive spelling and grammatical errors will be
marked down. The nonstandard notation and the compositions will be
checked for accuracy and neatness. These three items together will
count for 1/2 of the grade. The instrument itself will count for the
remaining 1/2 of the grade. Performance, while expected to be
rehearsed and well done, will not count in the final grade. There will be
a possible total of 100 points for the entire project with each of the two
sections each having 50 points possible.
Teacher will be available to help with ideas and projects on a limited
basis. Please ask for help if necessary, but the imagination used must
be your own. Limited class time will be used on solving this problem.