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Anna Atkinson

Dr. Richerme

F302

26 April 2016

Composition Lesson Plan and Assessment Rubric

Type of class/Grade level: General music class for 7th or 8th grade

Objectives:

1. Students will record at least 7 minutes of unedited sound from a place of their choice
2. Students will use the recording as a base and manipulate the audio file (cut, shorten,

move around, sound effects, etc.) into a music composition

3. Students will write a paragraph to describe the space they recorded as well as their

intention for the final composition.

Materials:

1. Digital recording devices for each student (e.g. cellphone, computer, handheld recorder)
2. Computer stations with audio manipulation software

Procedures:

1. The class will listen to Chris DeLaurentis CD Favorite Intermissions (5 mins)

2. Discuss the concept of a phonographer and DeLaurentis approach to music

composition. (5 mins)
3. The teacher will tell the students to find a sound space and use a recording device to

record the space for 7 mins (10 mins). The space should have a lot of rich or interesting

sounds (eg. Cafeteria, outside playground, gymnasium)

4. The students will return to the classroom with their recordings
5. They will use a program such as garage band to manipulate their audio file into a

composition. They can loop certain sections of their recordings, use all 7 minutes in an

interesting order or anything in between (20 mins).

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6. The students will write a paragraph about their recording, describing the space they used

and the creativity and thoughts that went into creating their final recording. (5 mins)
7. The students will share their composition with a partner and they will discuss the process

and thoughts about their organization. (5 mins)

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Assessment Rubric:

Needs Work Good Great Terrific

Aesthetic Appeal Does not present Includes at least Includes some Makes strong
an effective gen- one interesting interesting mus- general impre-
eral impression. musical idea. ical ideas. The ssion and has
Musical ideas do Yet, the overall general impre- great appeal.
not hold the list- impression is not ssion is pleasant Would be enj-
eners interest. aesthetically eff- and moderately oyed by many
ective. effective. listeners. Keeps
the listener inter-
ested.
Creativity Does not use the Uses the editing Uses the editing Uses the editing
unedited software to software to software to
recording in an somewhat enhance the enhance the
interesting enhance the musical musical
manner. Hardly musical experience and experience and
uses the editing experience, but uses the sound uses the sound
software to does not use the recording in an recording in a
enhance musical sound recording interesting way. way to create a
experience in an interesting realistic
manner. soundscape.
Written Does not write a Writes a Writes about Writes a
description thoughtful thoughtful both processes, thoughtful
description of the description of but could go into description of
process of one process but more detail and both processes
finding sounds neglects to write thought. and shed insight
and creating a about the other. into the process.
composition
based on those
sounds.
Following Does not collect Collects at least Collects at least Collects at least
directions at least 7 minutes 7 minutes of 7 minutes of 7 minutes of
of uninterrupted uninterrupted uninterrupted uninterrupted
sound and sound but sound but sound and
chooses a location has couldve chosen chooses an
location with limited sound. a better location. interesting
limited sound. location.