Full Description
Experiencing Music Composition in Grades 3-5 is a practical guide to new, innovative, and natural composition techniques for young composers. Music Educators Michele Kaschub and Janice Smith bring a wealth of experience to bear a unique and thoughtfully curated series of materials that help teachers connect music education to young composers' everyday emotions and activities . Divided into four sections, Kaschub and Smith's book illustrates a creative roadmap for instilling a sense of creative independence in students ages 8-11. The first section introduces readers to three distinct compositional ideals that are as educationally significant as the music they help create: feelingful intention, musical expressivity, and artistic craftsmanship. These capacities help springboard children's work from sounds and brief musical gestures to thoughtfully created, expressive musical pieces. Section 2 includes fun and imaginative lessons that are accompanied by Sketchpages-graphic worksheets that support deep consideration of a project's purpose during the compositional process. Lessons also include invaluable suggestions for productive sharing in a variety of formats. Section 3 offers guidance and strategies for sharing work, providing feedback, and encouraging future growth in a manner that fosters a positive learning experience and acknowledges each composer's musical autonomy. Section 4 contains additional teacher guides focused on creating original music in different genres. These guides outline multiple approaches to corresponding lessons and jumpstart activity while serving as developmental models. Experiencing Music Composition: Grades 3-5 offers new ways to promote not only creative intuition in children but also independent thought, preparing students for a fulfilling relationship with music.
Contents
Contents
Welcome to Experiencing Music Composition
About the Companion Website
The Experiencing Music Composition Program
What to Expect from Young Composers
Typical Characteristics of Composers in Grades 3-5
Typical Qualities of Works by Composers in Grades 3-5
How to Use This Book
Section 1: Compositional Capacities
On Composing
Compositional Capacities
Feelingful Intention
Developing the Capacity of Feelingful Intention
Musical Expressivity
More About the M.U.S.T.S.
Developing the Capacity of Musical Expressivity
Artistic Craftsmanship
Techniques and Etudes for Grades 3-5
Developing the Capacity of Artistic Craftsmanship
Final Thoughts
Section 2: Using Sketchpages
Guiding the Journey
Introducing Sketchpages to Young Composers
Sketchpages as Multi-taskers
Section 3: Creative Positive Compositional Experiences
Composition Requires a Different Kind of Teaching
Working with "In-process" Composers
Idea Generation
Idea Development or Extension
Anchoring Knowledge, Inviting Inspiration
Guidelines for Sharing Compositions - Giving and Receiving Feedback
Setting Expectations and Creating Guidelines
Composer's Circles
Working with Reluctant Sharers
Putting Feedback to Good Use
Post-Performance Reflections
Making the Most of Limited Timeframes
Section 4: Teacher Guides and Student Sketchpages
Teacher Guides
Curricular Organization
Songwriting and Choral Music
Composition and Visual Media
Instrumental Music
Electronic Music and Digital Media
Music Theater
Projects for Grade 3
Songwriting & Choral Music - Seasons: A Song Cycle in Four Movements
Composition & Visual Media - Composing for Adventuresome Characters
Project in Instrumental Music - Sounds & Notations
Project in Electronic Music & Digital Media - Duets with Tone Matrix Generators
Project in Music Theater - Getting to Know Me: Introducing Character Songs
Projects for Grade 4
Project in Songwriting & Choral Music - Tonic & Dominant Friendship Songs
Project in Composition & Visual Media - Before & After
Project in Instrumental Music - Percussion Canon
Project in Electronic Music & Digital Media - Head in the Game
Project in Music Theater - There's More than One Way to Tell a Story
Projects for Grade 5
Project in Songwriting & Choral Music - Our Blues Album
Project in Composition & Visual Media - From Silent Movie to Film Score: Just "Say Cheese"
Project in Instrumental Music - Soundscapes: A Walk through the Fair
Project in Electronic Music & Digital Media - Podcasts with Peer Composers
Project in Music Theater - Mini-Musical: A Story in Just Five Songs
Appendix: Sketchpage Notation Templates
