Teaching literacy in Music: Stage 4

Unit: Experimenting with sound

Part A: Creatng a sound collage

Lesson outcomes

Students:

organise information and re-write a point-form summary into a descriptive text
sequence the steps involved in preparing a composition assignment
create and record a sound collage by collecting and arranging environmental sounds into a pattern.

Revise Times Square Times Ten.

Play Times Square Times Ten to see how many facts the students remember about the piece. Ask students to set out their response as a mind map. Remind them that the following types of information need to be included:

information about the composer
information on the types of sounds they hear
the number of sections they can hear
the main types of sounds used in each section.

Mind map

Purpose

To record information known about a topic. Mind mapping can be done as an introduction to a topic to determine prior student knowledge, or used during a unit of work for students to record learnt information.

Description

A mind map is a visual-verbal or structured overview of a concept or topic. Students record information known about a topic in the form of words or drawings around a title or topic heading.

Implementation

Write a topic in the centre of a page.
Draw in arrows or shapes radiating out for recording pieces of information about the topic.
Record information known about the topic at the end of the arrows or in the shapes. Different colours can be used to help distinguish certain types of information.
The activity can also be done as a whole class or small group brainstorm.

Writing a CD sleeve note

Explain that CDs of art music often include quite detailed sleeve notes that describe the music and how it has been composed. They frequently include information on:

the composer (nationality, when and where he or she composed the work)
the title of the music and what it means
the main sections of the piece
characteristics of each section, including the main instruments or types of sounds
the overall form of the piece.

Display OHT 1: Sample CD sleeve note and distribute copies for student reference Student handout 6: Sample CD sleeve note.
Read through the sleeve note and identify the information in the above list. The students could use another mind map to jot down short notes about each item on the list.

Ask students to write their own sleeve notes for a CD of Times Square Times Ten. They should refer to their Times Square Times Ten mind map and include this information in their sleeve notes.

Start the task in class so that students are guided in the early stage of this process. Ask students to complete the text for homework and present it as a Word document, actual CD size (a 12 cm square). Click here to see a student work sample. Provide opportunities for students to share the completed sleeve notes with the class orally or in a classroom display.

Composing a sound collage

Distribute Student handout 7: Composition assignment - sound collage which outlines the requirements for the assignment. Check understanding by asking students to explain sections of the task to the class in their own words. Ask groups of students to brainstorm a list of everything which will need to be done to complete the task, including organising a cassette player to record sounds and acquiring a blank tape.

Create a whole class list as groups share their lists to ensure all necessary information is included.

Students then create their own assignment plan, listing materials needed and a series of steps they will follow to complete it.

Allow students at least three weeks to plan their piece, organise the recording of it and produce a well-presented finished product.
On completion, select a number of sound collages to play in class. Ask students to try and identify the sounds used and the structure of the piece.

Additional composition activity using a sequencer

Students can compose and record their own soundscapes on computer using a sequencing program such as Cubase.

Wells, Stephen. Computers in the Music Classroom (1998), Science Press, Marrickville, NSW contains a set of tutorials and composition projects which guide students through the process of learning the basics of sequencing by manipulating musical elements such as pitch, duration, tone colour, dynamics and structure.

Resources

Student handout 6: Sample CD sleeve note
Student handout 7: Composition assignment - sound collage

OHT 1: Sample CD sleeve note

Student work sample

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