Experiencing Music Composition in Middle School General Music is designed to help teachers and students create original music through materials and activities that are enticing and accessible. The text offers an innovative approach to composition teaching and learning to promote the development of the compositional capacities of feelingful intention, musical expressivity, and artistic craftsmanship. With instructional materials aligned to real world tasks from the genres of songwriting/choral music, composition and visual media, instrumental music, electronic music and digital media, and music theater, program activities easily fit into existing curricular frames. Students will transition from participation in teacher-facilitated whole class lessons to more independent compositional work using Sketchpages to guide their critical and creative thinking. These unique graphic organizers blend elements of the composer's notebook with doodle space to help students plan compositions, track their thinking through the compositional process, and document their analysis of completed works.
Michele Kaschub and Janice P. Smith bring over 50 years of experience in music composition research and pedagogy to the creation of the Experiencing Music Composition approach. As authors, editors, clinicians, and workshop leaders, they have worked with educators throughout the United States and abroad to expand the compositional opportunities available to K-12 students and their teachers.
About the Companion WebsiteSection I: Teaching and Learning with Experiencing Music CompositionIntroduction: Welcome to Experiencing Music CompositionChapter 1: The Experiencing Music Composition ProgramExperiencing Music Composition and the National Arts Standards for MusicTeaching Music Composition with the National Arts Standards for MusicChapter 2: What to Expect from Middle School ComposersTypical Characteristics of Middle School ComposersTypical Qualities of Compositions Created by Middle School ComposersChapter 3: How to Use This BookSection II: Facilitating the Work of Middle School ComposersChapter 4: Compositional CapacitiesOn ComposingCompositional CapacitiesFeelingful IntentionDeveloping the Capacity of Feelingful IntentionMusical ExpressivityMore About the MUSTSDeveloping the Capacity of Musical ExpressivityArtistic CraftsmanshipTechniques and Etudes for Grades 6-8Developing the Capacity of Artistic CraftsmanshipFinal ThoughtsChapter 5: Using Sketchpages Guiding the JourneyIntroducing Sketchpages to Middle School ComposersSketchpages as Multi-taskersSection 3: Creative Positive Compositional Experiences Chapter 6: Composition Requires a Different Kind of Teaching Working with "In-process" Composers Anchoring Knowledge, Inviting Inspiration Guidelines for Sharing Compositions - Giving and Receiving Feedback Making the Most of Limited Timeframes Section 4: Teacher Guides and Student Sketchpages Chapter 7: Teacher Guides Curricular Organization & Compositional Strands Projects for Beginning Composers Chapter 8: Songwriting - A Songwriter's Workshop Chapter 9: Film Scoring - And Now, A Public Service Announcement Chapter 10: Instrumental Music - Percussing Art Chapter 11: Electronic Music & Digital Media - Light Up Your Phone with a Bespoke Ringtone Chapter 12: Music Theater - Color Me Moody! Projects for Intermediate Composers Chapter 13: Songwriting - Haiku Opera Chapter 14: Film Scoring - One Scene, Many Interpretations Chapter 15: Instrumental Music - Upcycled Music Chapter 16: Electronic Music & Digital Media - Song Production Chapter 17: Music Theater - Spoken Word & Music Projects for Advanced Composers Chapter 18: Songwriting - Creating a Jazz Vocal Chapter 19: Film Scoring - Scoring Dynamic Documentaries Chapter 20: Instrumental Music - Composing Idiomatic Solos Chapter 21: Electronic Music & Digital Media - Environmental Musics Chapter 22: Music Theater - Reimagining Great Literature Appendix A: Notation Templates Appendix B: Critical Reflection Guide Index
