MIDI Music Composition

All first and second grade students, and the Odyssey third grade students have completed their songwriting unit.  During this in-depth project, approximately 225 students created a four measure musical composition, which demonstrates their knowledge of music theory skills.  Students worked independently, or with a partner, and were given the opportunity to combine their song with other students to create a longer composition. After completing their songs on paper, students had the opportunity to enter their notes on the computer. They learned a variety of skills, which include creating text boxes, selecting different fonts, and editing their text and music (copy and paste). Students were responsible for saving their work to their class folder, and then locating it during their next class. Several classes learned how to save their songs on a disk.  All students were taught how to use our notation software to select different sounds. (From 100 MIDI sounds)

            Students have taken great pride in their work, especially the written reflection.  In most cases, spelling was corrected, but in some, students felt corrections changed their thoughts.  Please understand this is not an oversight on our part.
 
               Students were asked to explain the songwriting process to their parents, using their completed portfolios to demonstrate the process.

  Here are the steps for writing our first songs:

• Using your rhythm cards. Create a 4-beat pattern.
• Write your pattern, then, repeat your pattern.
• Practice playing and saying your pattern using rhythm sticks.
• Play your pattern using one note on the xylophone.
• Now experiment using the notes C, D, E, G, and A. (Pentatonic scale)
• Create many different melodies.  Pick your favorite one!
• Write the letters of your notes underneath your rhythm, patterns.
• Create a different melody for your second rhythm pattern. (Try to find the “home” tone)
• Write the letters of your melody below the staff.  Do one measure at a time, and don’t forget your rests.
• Complete your note practice worksheet.
• Carefully place the note heads above each letter on the staff. No stems yet.  Don’t forget your rests.
• Add stems to notes. Add bridges for “tee-tee’s,” and “ti-ri-ti-ri’s.” (Eighth and sixteenth notes)
• Enter your work on the computer.  Be sure to save your work.
• Listen to your song.  Name your song. Choose an instrument.  Add composer’s name. (That’s you!)
• Write about your favorite and most difficult parts of writing your song.
• Meet with Mrs. Burritt to complete your assessment.
• Print out your song.  Practice and perform your composition on the piano or xylophone.

Click HERE to see National and State (Vermont) Standards used for this unit.

The following music compositions were created by first, second and one group of third grade students using music theory skills and the available technology in our elementary music room.  

Here are examples of our young student composers.   If you have a MIDI player, click on Listen, or to see the composition, click on Look.

 All Year Round- Look - Listen

The Christmas Kittens-Look - Listen

The Forth of July Fireworks-Look - Listen

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Home Page maintained by Diana Burritt
dburritt@scsvt.org
Last updated: June 4, 2001