This book provides lesson plans and exploratory activities for the elementary or middle school music teacher who wishes to incorporate meaningful, creative compositional activities in the general music classroom. This book aims to provide inspiration, additional ideas, creative activities, and contemporary techniques for the innovative teacher. All lesson plans include an Exploratory Set, a step-by-step Composition Guide, photocopiable templates, and Performance suggestions. The lesson plans are written as a general guide for the teacher and are not grade specific. All lessons can be adapted to suit multiple age and ability levels. Flexible composition lesson plans allow teachers to include own materials, connect to concepts studied in the curricula, and utilize additional resources. Photocopiable pages have been provided. Lesson features include: Standard notation: pitch, staff notation, letter names, rests, note values and basic theory such as measures, bar lines, time signatures, etc. Graphic notation: twentieth-century techniques, graphic notation, alternative music symbols, found sounds, body percussion, electronic sounds, and digital techniques Compositional techniques: repetition, sequence, motif, phrase, 4-measure phrase, form, augmentation, diminution, inversion, etc. Technology: ringtones on phones, composition apps, computer software, online tone-generators, voice memo apps, video, and slide show presentations Multi-media: Compositions include speaking parts, drama, images, slide shows, story, technology, live or recorded performance, spatial components, etc. Harmony: chordal work to start establishing the idea of harmonic progression Graphic Organizers: work charts for student groups, listening analysis, format of the composition, brainstorm maps, etc. Novelty: Student engagement is at its peak when novelty and variety are present. To this end many lessons have included fun, surprise and novelty items such as games, cards, toys, pipes, string, buttons, dominoes, images, charts, new sounds, etc.
About the Author: Adriana Janse van Rensburg completed her music studies at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, obtaining the degrees B. Mus (Ed), B. Mus Honors, M. Mus and a doctorate in music education. She also obtained Licentiates from UNISA and the Royal Schools of Music (London) in piano performance. Her Masters dissertation focused on guided composition and her doctoral dissertation researched Songwriting in Adolescence. She continued her studies at Georgia State University where she obtained a second Masters degree in music education. After 25 years in the classroom teaching elementary, middle, high school and college level students in various capacities, she served as Program Manager for a.r.t.s.APS, an initiative in the Fine Arts Department of Atlanta Public Schools. Dr. van Rensburg formerly served on the adjunct faculty of Georgia State University teaching Arts Integration, and on the Education Board of Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, and is a member of GMEA, GMTA and the Piano Guild of America. Ongoing activities include further research in Critical Thinking in Music and Music Composition in the classroom. The result of her research, studies and practical observations are evident in
this book of exploring, listening to, creating and composing music. She presents workshops, lectures and professional development nationwide. She is the author of Music Composition for Teens - a graded first course (2013), and Music Composition for Teens - a graded second course (2014), Music Tells my Story - integrating Music Composition and Language Arts (2014), Piano Pieces for Kids by Kids (2013), and Music Paints my Picture - integrating Music Composition and Visual Arts (2015).