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Introduction To Music Writing

1. Course Catalog Description

Grades 9-12

A full year, 1 credit elective course that meets five periods per week

Goals:

To develop an understanding of the structure of music including rhythmic and melodic dictation, major and minor scales, chords, harmonization, and composition.
To be able to compose a song with a melody and harmony.
To be able to perform simple compositions on a keyboard.
To be able to take musical dictation.
To be able to hear and identify basic intervals, chords, and scales.
To increase the student's understanding and appreciation of music from a wide range of musical styles.
To increase the student's understanding of the elements of music.

This course teaches the structure of music, including scales, chords, notation, harmony and melody. Students learn to use computers, MIDI keyboards, and pianos to compose and perform original compositions. Students will also learn to listen critically to music from a wide range of styles. Music listening will be geared toward understanding why music sounds the way it does. Compositional and historical styles, techniques and instrumenta tion will be explored.

2. Course Components

Using a variety of instructional strategies and learning tools, the student will learn to write music. The course blends a minimum of lecture instruction with ear-training, musi cal dictation, and hands-on experience using Apple and Macintosh computers and soft ware, MIDI keyboards, and pianos. The course uses the Mt. Ararat Music Fundamentals text/workbook to develop music composition skills.

3. Course Materials

Mt. Ararat Music Fundamentals Text/Workbook
Macintosh and Apple computers, hardware and software
MIDI keyboards
4 Pianos
Stereo playback equipment

4. Student Expectations

Students are expected to:

Have a 3 ring binder notebook for the text/workbook, and to keep all handouts in the order in the notebook.
Complete end of chapter assignments on time

5. Evaluation

A student's grade will be primarily based on test scores, the timely completion of core assignments, and effort.

Introduction to Music Writing- Core Assignments

Students must satisfactorily complete one composition in each of the following styles:

ABA form.
based on theme and variation form
in a major key
in a minor key
in a church mode
using text