The jazz ensemble is not the only group that students can improvise in. Groups that create their own electronic “instruments” do exist and can provide a model for an interesting collaboration between the music and technology departments of your school. If you or your students don’t want to create musical electronic devices from scratch you can always work on modifying something and see/hear what happens.
Corey Dargel’s thought-provoking article on contemporary art songs gives some food for thought and has some interesting implications for our music classrooms. I’ve had some pretty good success with approaching art songs with my fifth grade general music students focusing on the Erlking by Schubert and ending up with students creating their own art songs. After reading Mr. Dargel’s article I can see many ways to expand the discussion and listening examples of art songs I use in the classroom. … Read More »Students creating contemporary art songs….
Do you notice any students of yours who do particularly well when composing in your music program? Let them know that young composers do get noticed! Recently, a 17 year old composer was the winner of 2 big awards and has since formed his own band that plays chamber music composed since 1988. Maybe students of yours will be winning composition awards in the future. Why not give your students a start by having them submit melodies to the Hartwick… Read More »Future Composers in Your Classrooms?
Thanks to David Wolf for the link to Soundtransit! While some people play music from around the world for their students, it is probably less common to have field recordings for our students to listen to of actual everyday sounds from spaces and places around the world. After taking a sound journey across the world our students will probably be more conscious and aware of the everyday sounds in their own lives and environment. Since the recordings on the site… Read More »Sounds and Spaces around the world…
Track 1 – How long until public school music programs start up their own laptop orchestras ? If you had one in your school one of your students might even eventually make a career writing electronica and orchestral music! Track 2 – Speaking of orchestras, why not let your students know what playing in an orchestra is like from an orchestral horn player’s perspective. Track 3 – The Cranbrook Composers’ Workshop website is a great model for music programs to… Read More »Catalysts & Connections – A Music Education Mixtape V3