Composition is a musical technique that is difficult to implement in the classroom. Even though it is one of the National Core Arts Standards' anchor standards, creating can be a daunting task. In a traditional ensemble music class like band, teachers often neglect creating with their students, in favor of spending that class time on rehearsal. From what I have seen and heard, teaching composition in a music classroom can be an unenjoyable project for students and teachers alike, and suffers a heavy handed implementation. Either the students simply put down notes on a music writing software without much thought, or they simply would rather play their instruments. Personally, I think too largely when I have tried to compose in the past, thinking I needed to make some grand, perfect creation, and getting stifled from simply allowing the creative process to take place.
What I do know about composition is the music theory, factors like melody and counterpoint, and the formal structures of music. Some things I would like to know are starting points for a composition, and how to develop a musical idea and where to go with it. I would like to explore in this project techniques for teaching and implementing composition in music class. I am expecting to find a variety of ideas and techniques for my future teaching, what does not work and why, and how to make composition a fun activity.
Possible Resources:
http://www.bsmny.org/exploring-music/features/practical-guides/a-beginners-guide-to-composing/
https://www.kmea.org/CONFERENCE/handouts/practicaltechniques.pdf
https://nafme.org/plans-for-teaching-composition-at-all-levels/
https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/rethinking-how-we-teach-composition-part-1/
