Can 7th grade students compose like Mozart? You bet they can! Give them the right tools, time and effective instruction and watch them grow!
This year our 7th grade students will have general music during the second nine weeks of the school year. They will meet on Monday for 40 minutes, then on Wednesday and Friday for 80 minutes. This is a new schedule for us and we are excited to have the blocks of time for project-based learning which lends itself perfectly to the music classroom. Our goal for the class is to develop creativity in our students. Our school is a very small rural public school supported by a wonderful farming community.
How do we learn best? Seems that there are many ways that people learn but one common thread I have found with my students over the years is that they learn best when they are having fun while being actively engaged in the process. Put more simply: Doing something that is fun! I plan to run my 7th grade music class this year in four workstations.
Station 1: Intro to guitar. Students will be given simple TAB sheets for which they will learn common simple melodies such as "The 007 Theme", "Smoke on the Water", "Theme from Ode to Joy", and more.
Station 2: Students will be assigned to a computer where they will use recording software and loops to create specified musical creations.
Station 3: The student group will work with recording freeware and a keyboard to create "This Day in Music History" podcasts for class sharing.
Station 4: Students will practice piano and keyboarding skills for use in the other stations. This station will require the students to develop a confidence with the notes of the keyboard, note reading and keyboard manipulation.
Sounds great right?...and fun? I have no keyboards and they are central to the success of this class! Can you help me?
My ideal set-up includes at least six guitars, I have 15! Access to the internet, good to go. Recording software, music composition software and sequencing software, 3 out of 3. Six computer stations, I have four and think (fingers crossed) that my tech department will pull through for two more, hopefully optimistic. Five keyboards.......I have none! We do have a piano, but a piano does not offer the versatility that a keyboard does. I need five keyboards to make this project work. Can you help me out and donate towards our project goal of five keyboard workstations?
Your donation will ensure that rural students in 7th grade at my high school will have the opportunity to experience musical creativity at the highest level all while having fun! The 21st century workforce will need people who are creative and good with technology. I can provide the development of these skills in my music classroom if you can provide some help. Everyday I work as a teacher to make a difference; here is your chance to join me. Your donation can make a difference! Thanks for your consideration!
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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