Using Online Music Composition Websites to

Engage the Music Appreciation Student

AACEED-Media Conference

Honolulu, Hawai'iJune 2009

Kevin Mobbs, D.M.A.University of West Georgia

OverviewIn a typical Music Appreciation class,

students learn music concepts and important works and composers

Due to the high level of training and complexity involved, historically, the music appreciation student is unable to apply these concepts

Technology now allows the non-musician music appreciation student to apply music concepts learned in class

This hands-on application, engages the student and solidifies concepts. Besides- it’s lots of fun

A Sample Lesson: Compose a Blues Song

Lesson Goals:Learn the importance of repetition

and contrast in the construction of music

Create a song using learned concepts of repetition and contrast

www.jamstudio.com

Lesson DescriptionStudents learned details involving two main aspects of repetition and contrast in a traditional Blues song

Lyric form (AAB)

12 Bar Blues Progression (harmony)

The AACE-Ed-Media BluesThe best way to understand this process is to do it ourselves

We will focus on learning and creating the 12 Bar Blues Progression (harmony)

Feel free to write lyrics and volunteer to sing your song at the end of the session

The 12 Bar Blues ProgressionUnderlying a Blues song and the lyric is the

12 Bar Blues Progression (harmony).

The 12 Bar Blues Progression consists of 3 sections (A-A-B) which is further made up of four groupings (measures) of the beat.

3 sections multiplied by 4 groupings equals 12 Bar Blues Form.

3 sections (A/A/B) multiplied by 4 measures (groupings) equals 12 Bar Blues Progression.

12 Bar Blues Progression built on only 3 different chords: I-IV-V

I-I-I-I IV-IV-I-I V-IV-I-I

(as one example of 12 bar blues chord progression)

The 12 Bar Blues Progression

A A B

The numerals refer to the scale degree of any scale:

C D E F G A B C

What’s the 4-5-1 in the above scale?

The 12 Bar Blues Progression

1 2 3 4 65 7 8(1)

F (IV); G (V); C (I)

F; G ; A ; B-flat ; C; D; EB-flat; C; F

B-flat; C; D; E-flat; F; G; AE-flat; F; Bb

A; B; C; D; E; F; GD; E; A

D; E; F-sharp; G; A; B; C;G; A; D

Element 2: Identify the 4, 5, 1

12 Bar Blues Progression built on the chords: I-IV-V

I-I-I-I IV-IV-I-I V-IV-I-I

Compose the 12 Bar Blues

A A B

Spell the 12 Bar Blues from the following scale (use the above):

B-flat; C; D; E-flat; F; G; A;

Bb Bb Bb Bb Eb Eb Bb Bb F Eb Bb Bb

3 sections (A/A/B) multiplied by 4 measures (groupings) equals 12 Bar Blues Progression.

The Infamous B-flat Blues

Compose the 12 Bar Blues: JamStudio.com

Bb Bb Bb Bb Eb Eb Bb Bb F Eb Bb Bb

The B-flat BluesOR

The AACA Ed-Media Blues

SummaryAnyone want to sing their lyrics?

• The JamStudio link to the AACE Ed-Media Blues will be placed on the Wiki (address on handout)

• Use music creation in any discipline

• Many music websites are available

Resources•Wiki for today’s presentation

• http://aaceblues.pbworks.com

•EdTech forum for technical help• http://whistlingwhale.com/edtechforum/

•Other music creation websiteshttp://www.soundjunction.com http://lab.andre-michelle.com/fl-909 http://www.eye4u.com/showroom/websynth/websynth.htm http://www.jamglue.com/ http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/sdml/sdml.asp http://www.tony-b.org/