Underclassman Music Appreciation

Composition Project
1. Time Needed
- One 50 minute class period

2. Instructional Materials and Resources:

- Students will each need a computer with Musescore installed. This class will take place in a
computer lab.

3. Learning Objectives/Standards
- Learning Objective: Students will use Musescore to compose a short piece.
- Music Standard: Creating
o Anchor Standard: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
o Process Standard: Compose and/or improvise melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic ideas for
simple melodies and accompaniments for given melodies.

4. Assessments
Diagnostic Assessment The students will all notate a simple melody in
Musescore. The teacher will walk to each desk to make sure students are able to
use the software.

Formative Assessment The teacher will walk around while students are
doing individual work, and she will check each students chord
progressions and provide feedback on them.
Summative Assessment At the end of the learning segment, students will
turn in their compositions to be graded.
5. Personal Instructional Objectives
I will provide clear and succinct feedback to the students.

6. Procedures (Instructional Strategies and Learning Tasks)

- Students will be able to choose from three pieces. The melodies for each piece will be written on
the board. The choices will be short, simple folk melodies.
- I will give a short lecture on how to use Musescore, and I will notate one of the melodies as an
example.
- After the lecture, students will practice using the software independently. Their task is to first
notate one of the melodies, then come up with an appropriate chord progression for it.
- I will walk around the room and give feedback to each student.
- Their homework will to be to write a variation on the piece they have notated. Because some
students may not have internet access at home, they will also have time in the next days class to
work on it.

7. Closure

- I will ask students if they have any questions on how to use the software, then I will give
the students their homework assignment. I will praise their effort of working on these
projects, and I will tell them that I am looking forward to listening to them.