1. Amazing Authentic Learning Project
Title & Summary
Title: Create a Composition
Summary: Students in 6th grade general music will compose their own song to be performed
for the class.
South Dakota State Standards
Music Standard Three: Students will read and notate music. Benchmarks 5-8,
A. Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted notes and rests in 2/4, 3 /4, 4/4,
6/8, 3/8, and alla breve meter signatures.
C. Read standard notation symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, and
expression.
D. Use standard notation to record their musical ideas and the musical ideas of others.
Materials & Technology
Music Notes I (taken in September) inside your music folder
Assignment rubric (handout)
Pen or pencil
Computer lab
Website: http://www.noteflight.com (students will create an account and need to
remember their login and password)
Intended learning outcomes
Students are able to combine musical notation on the staff in treble and bass clefs in a 4-4
time signature with accurate counting and utilize whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes in
both clefs.
Students develop a deeper appreciation for music as a result of composing and realize
more of the elements that are included when creating music.
Students will practice appropriate audience etiquette when they are listening to the
compositions in class.
Assessment Plan
Rubric:

2. Name:
__________________________________Class:
1A___2A___1B___2B___
Composition
6th Grade General Music
1. The composition will be composed for bass clef and treble clef,
and will be played on the piano.
2. The composition will be done in 4-4 time.
3. The composition will be due on__________________________.
4. The composition must have a title.
5. Login:_______________________________Password:___________
_____________________
Rubric for Grading of the Boom Whacker Composition
Criteria
Length
Timeline
ss
Use of
Notes
* All
compositions
must make use
of all of
these notes
on the Note
Pyramid
(whole, half,
quarter, and
eighth) in both
5
points
4
points
3
points
2
points
20
measures
or more
19-15
measures
14-10
measures
9 or fewer
measures
Turned in
on time
One day
late
Two days
late
Three or more
days late
Uses
notes
studied up
to this
time, but
fails to
use one of
the four.
Uses only
two of the
notes listed
on the
pyramid.
Uses all
notes
studied up
to this time.
Dotted
notes may
be used but
are not
required.
Does not use
all of the
previously
listed notes.

3. clefs.
Correct
number
of
beats in
each
measur
e
Use of
both
treble
and
bass
clef
All
measures
contain
only four
beats.
Treble and
Bass clefs
are used
on the
staff, and
all notes
are used.
All
measures
contain
only four
beats; with
less than
three
mistakes in
the entire
compositio
n.
The
composition
is not
consistent
with the
accurate
number of
beats (4) in
each
measure.
More than
three
mistakes.
More than
half of the
measures in
the
composition
have an
inaccurate
number of
beats present.
Both clefs
are used
but one
clef does
not use
all note
values
(note
pyramid.)
Both clefs
are used
without all
note values.
Only one clef
uses the
notes from
the note
pyramid in the
composition.
How & why the project is authentic
Composing is a professional job in which people create music by writing it with musical
notation so that it may be performed, purchased, copyrighted, listened to, and enjoyed by
others. This is an authentic assignment because composing is done “in the real world.”
How & why the project requires learner to: design, experiment, or communicate
Students must create music on the page; in essence, design the composition.
Final Assignment & Required Elements

4. See Rubric for composition requirements.
Instructional Procedures with materials & technology, content covered, &
pedagogical approach implemented
Day 1: Folders will be passed out at the beginning of class along with the rubric.
Students will receive the rubric, to be read aloud, explained, and any questions
answered. They will write their name on the sheet, class period, and due date.
We will start a sample composition on the board together. Students will write
their own example of two or three measures with 4 beats each on their own
paper.
Day 2: Class will go to the computer lab with their folder, notes, rubric, and
pencil. We will go to the Noteflight website and create a login and password
(which should be written down on the rubric.) Then we will watch the tutorial
video for using Noteflight. Students may begin working on their composition.
Day 3: In the lab working on compositions.
Day 4: In the lab working on compositions. Compositions due at the end of
class. Turn in composition and rubric together.
Day 5: We will discuss proper concert etiquette and then the teacher will begin
playing the compositions. The title will be announced before the piece is
played. After the composition is done, the composer will be announced and
the audience can clap.
Day 6: Continue playing compositions until everyone’s has been performed.