Multi-Genre

Research Project
John Lloyd

Project Construction

Assignment/Project examples
Integration of music and literacy
Group and Individual work
Technology Involvement
Charlottesville Day School

Composer Project
Students research a
classical composer,
develop a biography,
cite sources and use
musical examples to
develop a
presentation.

Composer Biography Project

For this assignment, you will be researching the life and music
of a classical composer.

1. Using the IMSLP database, choose one classical

composer who interests you. Explore several and listen to a
piece by each before deciding on one.
2. Develop a short (2-3 paragraphs) written biography on
your chosen composer. This must be in your own words, and
cite the source of your information. You will share this
biography with the class.
3. Choose a short piece or an excerpt of a larger piece (5
mins) to talk about and play for the class. Be prepared to
discuss what you like about the piece and answer questions
the class may have.

Composer Project Cont.

Jazz Listenings
Students listen indepth to multiple jazz
recordings, writing
reflections/analyses
OR a review for each.

Jazz Listenings Assignment

For this assignment, you will choose 5 approved jazz recordings,

then listen to, analyze and write a short summary for each.

1. Find 5 jazz recordings you like from any source. YouTube and
Spotify are an excellent places to look. Either send them via email or
show them to me before or after class for approval.
2. Listen very intently to each. Think about what you like and
dislike in each recording. What do they remind you of? What do you
notice about the improvised solos? Be as detailed as you like; if you
want to talk about theory, harmonic structure or form, feel free!
3. Write 1-2 paragraphs on each recording. Be detailed and
descriptive; write down any questions you may have as well.
4. If you wish, you may do additional listenings. One bonus point
will be awarded for each!

Jazz Listenings Cont.

Musician Interview
Students will interview
and become familiar
with the music of a
professional musician
in the community.

Musician Interview Project

For this assignment, you will interview one professional musician in your community.
1. Find a professional musician to interview. Musicians in any genre, on
any instrument or voice are acceptable. Searching online for live music in
town is a good way to find musicians in the area. Feel free to ask me if you
need help getting in touch with a musician.
2. Listen to the musician either in a live setting or on a recording.
Become familiar with the music they play and with what groups they play.
3. Setup a meeting, a web chat or an email correspondence with the
musician. If you meet with them in person, record the conversation (make
sure this is OK with them beforehand). Include but do not limit yourself to
these questions: What has been your musical path to this point? When
and why did you decide to become a professional musician? What
musicians have been major inspirations and influences in your life?
4. Create a blog post or written submission from your interview. Be sure
to accurately quote your interviewee and discuss what you learned about
them and their life in the interview.

Musician Interview Cont.

Musical Story Project

Students develop a
read-aloud story to be
performed along with
an instrumental
musical recording.

Musical Story Project

For this assignment, you and a partner will develop a story or poem
to be narrated over a music recording.

1. With your partner, choose an instrumental recording that you

both enjoy listening to and that you both feel conveys a story.
Become very familiar with the recording by listening to it over
several days.
2. Once you and your partner feel comfortable and familiar with
the recording, develop a script, story or poem to be read or acted
along to the recording. This must be at least 5 minutes but no longer
than 10.
3. Perform your script/poem/story for the class. You may include
others in the performance if you have more than two parts in a
script. Enjoy yourself and make sure the performance appropriately
replicates what is happening in the music!

Musical Story Cont.

Webpage Assignments
Students read weekly
blog posts and
complete assignments
available from my
webpage.

Webpage Cont.

Webpage Cont.

Bibliography
Cohen, B. (n.d.). Free Creative Writing Prompts #36: Music. Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.build-creative-writing-ideas.
com/free-creative-writing-prompts-music.html
(Article) Bryan Cohens short entry on the Build Creative Writing Ideas website serves as a resource for sample writing prompts that can
easily be incorporated into the music classroom. These prompts relate to prior musical experiences, hypothetical situations and developing
relationships between music and emotion. A unique addition to this source are prompts that pertain to parents and adults as well as students.

Hughes, C. Learn Jazz Standards. (2010, January 1). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.learnjazzstandards.com/
(Database) Learn Jazz Standards is a database that contains play-alongs, recordings, chord charts, biographies and backgrounds on a vast
number of jazz artists and pieces. From contemporary to the traditional American songbook, the website covers a wide variety of jazz subgenres and is continuously updated with new resources and information.
For students involved in any music class who may be drawn to writing about or playing the music of one or more jazz artists, this website is an
excellent place to begin. A sample of a writing assignment may be an individual studying the music of John Coltrane by creating a short bio and
choosing two tunes to become an expert on, culminating in an essay and class presentation in the format of a lecture recital.

Bibliography Cont.
Klems, B. (2014, March 24). 6 Tips for Writing About Music. Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/6-tips-for-writingabout-music
(Article) In a guest entry from Bryan Klems column The Writers Dig, musician and writer Kenny Weissberg provides tips and advice for music lovers who
want to begin writing their own pieces on music. Experiencing music live, taking notes on performances and recordings, reading about music, and writing about
music you dont like are all strategies he recommends to developing your music-critiquing skills.
This could very well be included as part of a writing assignment in a music classroom. Students may be asked to develop their own blog, producing periodic
entries based on assigned listenings or music of their choosing.

Petrucci Public Domain Music Library. Various Contributors. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://imslp.org/
(Database) This massive collection of public domain scores and recordings is an incredible resource for students of classical music of all ages. Comprehensive
access to PDF files of musical scores and professional recordings is available to the public through a Wikipedia-esque search engine. Biographical and other
information is also available throughout the website.
This serves as an excellent resource for multiple reasons. Students can develop multimedia projects on composers with scores, biographies and recordings all
in one place. They can perform theoretical analyses on musical excerpts directly from sources within the website as well. Students can even create group
writing projects that involve them forming ensembles, performing the music of a composer and then submitting a piece on what they learned about the
composer and the musical style with an included recording.

Bibliography Cont.
Thomas, G. (2015) Jazz Listenings Responses to Jazz Recordings. Assignment retrieved from band class curriculum.
(School Assignment) This was an assignment that was incorporated by my band director in high school. Students would select 10 recordings
per nine-week grading period to listen to, responding to each in a detailed reflection. These reflections could involve emotional impact,
connections to life events, theoretical music analysis, historical significance of the recording, and more. Students found themselves listening to
things they may not have discovered otherwise and often came to enjoy music that they had not before.

Woo, A. (2015, January 1). JAMS Instrumental Music: Writing Prompts. Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.jamsinstrumentalmusic.
org/main/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=62
(School Website) The website of John Adams Middle Schools music program provides an excellent example of writing involvement in the
music curriculum. Students are assigned a variety of writing prompts every grading period and must choose one for response. There is often a
video or in-class activity related to the writing prompts, all of which are available for review by students and parents on the band website.