Listening+Project+for+Band

=**__ View a Video Explanation of this project on Youtube __**= Split into two parts, the links are: Part 1: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtxZ_1-sS1I Part 2: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psg5YI0KldU

=__Listening Project for Band__=

Listening, Analyzing, Evaluating, and Critiquing Music
The purpose of this project is to have students actively listen, analyze, and critique examples of band music. Students will listen to 2 different pieces provided by me throughout the year. This will occur during Band Rehearsal, with 2 students at a time going to the 2 listening stations set up in the room. By the end of the semester all students should have completed the listening activity.

**__Introduction__**
Introduction to the project will be listening to a model piece as a whole band to explore the listening process together. We would establish the levels of listening on the listening arrow poster and would display the poster by the listening activity station as a reminder throughout the project.

__Student Reflection: K-W-L-H (Know - Wonder - Learn - How)__



 * Know:** //What I know already// **Wonder:** //What I want to learn// **Learn:** //What I learned **How: //How I learned it// ** //

K: What do I know about Music Listening and Playing? W: What do I want to know (wonder) about Music Listening and Playing?
 * Prior to listening project, students will answer the following questions:**


 * After the listening project, students will revisit their K-W questions, then answer:**

L: What did I learn about Music Listening and Playing? H: This is how I learned what I learned:

They can do this with a document or on a __forum__

__Guided Questions for Listening:__
As they are listening individually, they will write their reactions on a guided question sheet.



Another format would be a survey: Piece #1 Piece #2


 * Listen to Piece 1:**

What do you hear? What emotion do you think the composer was trying to express? What elements of music do you hear that point to the emotion? What do you like about the piece? Is there anything you dislike about the piece? How would you change this piece to make it more to your liking? What title would you give this piece?


 * Listen to Piece 2:**

What do you hear that is different from Piece 1? What do you hear that is the same with Piece 1? What emotion do you think the composer was trying to express? What did the composer do in this piece to portray emotion? If you were the judge of Band Idol, which piece would you vote for? How would you justify your choice to your fellow judges?

After they finish, they will either hand the sheet into a folder, or submit the survey, then return to band.

Sample Listening Pieces are Dragonfire (Paul Lavender) and Let's Go Band (Balent)

Dragonfire: media type="file" key="Dragonfire.mp4" width="300" height="300"

Let's Go Band: media type="file" key="Lets Go Band.mp4" width="300" height="300"

__Culminating Activity:__
Students get together in 2 groups divided by which piece they chose to vote for. Then they will break into groups of 4-6. These small groups will write a short promotional paragraph/poster/commercial for why they think their group's piece should win. Paragraphs/posters/commercials will be posted online and the pieces will be put to a voting survey. The winning piece will receive the Band Idol Award. (optional, if the pieces are playable for Elementary Band, the winning piece will be played the following semester, either the spring or fall) Finally, students will complete the L portion of the K-W-L reflection.

__Small Groups__
Before students have broken into the smaller groups, we will review as a class what productive group work looks like/sounds like. Here are some sample questions:

What does productive group work look like? What does productive group work sound like? What happens if your group has several ideas about what you want to do? What are some ways to work through disagreements? (Is it productive to fight?) What is the goal for your group? How can we stay on task as a group? What steps do we need to take to complete our goal? 1. Establish Promo Idea ~ What do we need to portray? What important information needs to be transmitted in our promo? 2. Establish steps to complete Idea, as well as: 3. Work together to complete Promo Idea 4. Pause every now and then to so a self-check: are we on task? where are we in the steps? 5. At completion: Have we conveyed the important information? Have we worked well together as a group? Have I put in my best effort for the group?
 * List of materials needed
 * Any technology needed to complete idea: scanner, videocamera, audio recorder, etc.
 * estimated time needed to complete

As a class we will create a poster from the answers to these questions, and keep it posted throughout the working process. If students encounter problems along the way, they will go to the board to solve them, fostering cooperative learning.

Once students are clear on their objective and strategies for reaching objective, separate into the small groups and get started. Be available for questions and guidance.

Collect finished promo products, post online, set up voting survey, and establish a deadline for voting.

Once voting deadline arrives, count votes and announce winning piece. Crown the piece and celebrate!

If you are using the piece in your next concert, have students write a short description of the process they took to choose this piece. They will present this to the audience before they perform it, including the audience as spectators of their listening journey. (You could also take videos/pics during the year and put together a short slideshow to display while they read, though this is dependent on your availability to appropriate technology)

__Final Thoughts__
This listening activity can be transplanted into a chorus, orchestra, or general music setting. Alter the listening selections, possibly redirect the focus of the listening (eg singing styles, cultural themes, etc). Also, any competition can replace Band Idol if American Idol loses its pop culture status.

Happy teaching, and post on the discussion board or email me at melindafeldmann@gmail.com for questions, or just let me know if you tried it and how it worked for you!