Dylan Meyer

MUS 243
Dr. Adam Kruse
1 December 2016
MUS 243 Project Design
1. Project Description
a. Using sound effects as an alternative to standard pitches in teaching musical
expression
2. Student Population
a. General Music/Music Tech class (any level of school, elementary, middle, or
high)
3. Project Purpose
a. The purpose of this project is to teach students that non-standard notation and
sounds can still be used for musical expression, and can be the most worldly
method of expression
4. Project Goals (Students should be able to)
a. Gain fundamental MIDI keyboard skills
b. Become comfortable with non-standard (self-created) notation and world sounds
(sound effects) enough to transcribe said sounds using MIDI sound effects
c. Learn how to create soundscapes and represent the world around them through
this project
5. Necessary Resources
a. MIDI keyboard access (preferably one per one/two students)
b. Computer access (preferably one per one/two students)
c. Notation software or pencil/staff paper

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6. Project Length
a. Month (4 weeks)
7. Prior Knowledge
a. For younger students, there will not be as much required knowledge, with perhaps
only a basic understanding of notation and computer skills
b. For older students, much of this information will be already learned, and many are
expected to have fine computer skills and a firm grasp at notation, or at least be
able to learn at a quicker rate
8. Sequence
a. Week 1 Introduce Project and go over fundamentals about how pitch and
rhythm are notated (varies per grade level)
b. Week 2 Introduce MIDI keyboards and MIDI sound effect functions; Introduce
how basic soundscapes are created and how ordinary sounds can be a part of this
c. Week 3 Help students with designing their own notation systems and
experimenting with their own soundscapes
d. Week 4 Explain advanced topics such as basic harmony and texture and how
this relates to their projects. Finish projects and provide class days for show and
tell/presentation of work.
9. Assessment Tool
a. A composite grade made up of
i. 25% presentation of work to class during show and tell (participation)
ii. 25% short paper explaining musical choices and process (bulk of the
real points, this keeps the student from getting lazy with the project and

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taking the easy way out, forces them to think critically about their work
without being too over-bearing)
iii. 25% digital submission of work with all files. Any handwritten notation as
well (mostly participation, but complies to standards of bullet ii)
iv. 25% Mock performance of another students own creation (participation
credit)