Tuesday, October 05, 1999
Pupils to create original music
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
UNION TOWNSHIP — Every sixth-grader will leave Shawnee Elementary School a composer — after creating at least one piece of music.
Music teacher Catherine Gorman will use a $1,500 grant from EDS Inc. to buy an iMac computer, an electronic keyboard and the “U Compose It” software package to use in her classroom for a 10-week study of music composition. After studying rhythm, melody and the composing process, it will be up to students to create their own song.
“It's a very creative type of project,” said Ms. Gorman, the assistant director of Friendship United Methodist Church in Wyoming. “It will be the culmination of their music curriculum here at Shawnee.”
The unit on composition probably won't begin until next semester to give Ms. Gorman enough time to order the equipment and learn how to use the software, which is different from what she uses now outside the classroom.
“Once they master some simple melodic pieces on the electronic keyboard, they can play different patterns which will be entered into the computer via cables,” Ms. Gorman said.
Once on screen, students can add musical tracks — such as percussion — or change the arrangement until they are satisfied. Their composition can then be printed out in proper musical notation and played by other musicians.
“You don't have to have an understanding of musical language or understand how to read music to compose,” Ms. Gorman said. “I'm looking for a two- or three-section composition. If the students want to, they can add their own words.”
Composing music will meet one of the standards of the National Standards for Arts Education in Music. It calls for all students in grades 5 through 8 to be able to compose and arrange music within guidelines.
Besides increasing the students' musical knowledge, Ms. Gorman said, it would improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
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