Albert's Music Class 2009 - 2010
Students can get their homework assignments and class handouts by clicking on the link below. Due dates for assignments are extended one week if handed in via email.
REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS SONG PROJECT: Songs should be recorded using the Garageband program. The song is worth a total of 10 points toward your final grade. Only one song is required and/or accepted. Extra songs will not get any extra points. The song must be created in class during the cycle that the points are given. Songs created outside of school or in a previous cycle will not count. For this cycle the song must have the following structure:
1. The song must have a unique name. My Song (x) will not count.
2. The song must have a structure. Use the Arrange Track to indicate the structure of your sections.
3. Click on the + on the right side of the Arrangement track to make a new section. Double click on the section name to change “untitled” to the name of the section you want.
4. The song must have verse 1, chorus 1, verse 2, chorus 2, bridge, chorus 3.
5. The song should be at least 90 seconds long but less than 4 minutes. See image below to see how your project should look.
Syllabus
Songwriting
2009 - 2010
Instructor Name: Albert Bouchard
Email: albert@cellsum.com
Phone: 631-972-7248
Office Location: B-16
Office Hours: 8:00-3:00
Course Description
This course is for students who need to achieve music/art credit to graduate, want to learn about music,
want to play an instrument, and want to write songs or produce a record. We will accomplish this by
learning about music theory, creating songs, studying music software, learning how different
instruments work and analyzing music criticism.
(This syllabus is subject to revision at the teacher’s discretion.)
Subject Area: Arts and Music
Subject: Music
Room Number: B-16
Grade Level: 10-12
Period: 3,7,8
Credits: 0.50
Getting Assistance
General Assistance
Outside the classroom students can get assistance on the following websites:
Assignments: http://albertsmusicclass.blogspot.com
Resources: http://www.earwshs.net/albert
Garageband: http://www.apple.com/support/garageband/
Songwriting: http://www.easy-song-writing.com/
Course Website(s) http://albertsmusicclass.blogspot.com
Instructor Website http://www.earwshs.net/albert
EAR WSHS official site www.earwshs.net
Course Outcomes
• “Write a cohesive song,”
• “Understand articles about music,”
• “Be able to play an instrument.”
Subsequent Courses
Music Performance
Grading Policies
Grading Scale
You will need 65 points to pass this cycle with a grade of 65 and 90 points to get a grade of 90 or
better.
Grading Explanation
Grades are based on the point system. Homework assignments are given on the first day of every
week. Each homework assignment is worth 2 points. On time attendance in class is worth 1 point and
class participation is worth another point. Late students get just a half point. There is a 10-minute grace
period and after that the student is late. After a half hour the student is considered absent and no points
will be given. The in-class project is worth 10 points. Students who cut or leave the class before the period
is over without permission will be marked absent and one point will be deducted
Late Assignments
Homework assignments are due one week following when they are given. Any homework handed in
after that week will be worth half. The in class project is due by the end of the cycle. After the cycle is
over no work will be accepted.
Plagiarism Statement
Students are allowed to copy material from websites in their assignments as long as they cite their
references. Students are allowed to collaborate on their in-class assignments as long as such
collaboration is acknowledged. If no mention is made of such material the assignment or project will
not count towards a final grade and no points will be given.
Make-Up Assignments and Exams
Make-up assignments will be given if a student has a valid excuse that has been verified by the
attendance office.
Incomplete or Partial Credit
No incomplet or partial credit will be given at the end of the cycle.
Other
Students must be present in class at least 80% of the cycle to pass the class.
Classroom Conduct
Study Skills
Participate: ask and answer questions, work with classmates, complete assigned work.
Classroom Conduct
Be on time. Respect yourself, your classmates, and your teacher.
Curriculum
Songwriting
Music theory, Tension/release, Scales, Modes, Structure
Song Title Ideas
Have students write down original titles using prompts.
Assignment: Song Title Ideas
Description: Have students write down original titles using as many of the following prompts as
possible:
1) A Color Title - "Yellow Submarine" "Lady in Red"
2) A City, State, or Foreign Place - "Moonlight in Vermont" "New York State of Mind"
3) Day, Month or Number - "Sunday Kind of Love" ""50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
4) A Female Name - "Suzzanne," "Sweet Caroline"
5) Top 10 Words - "HEART", "NIGHT', "IF"
6) A book title - "The Language of Letting Go" (by my buddy Michael Bowers)
7) An antonym title - "I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good"
8) Idiom, Axiom, or Paragram - idiom "Save the Best for Last"- axiom "Easy Come, Easy Go"-
paragram (new twist) "Friends in Low Places"
9) Make up a word - "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
10) Start with "AND"
Developing Ideas
First: Ask questions.
Assignment: First ask questions
Description: 1. Start by asking the questions the title (the one you have chosen from last week)
wants to have answered. Let's say your title is "I Drove All Night." What questions need to be
answered: "Where did you drive?" and "Why did you do that?"
2. Now apply this idea to '"California Girl": "Who is she?" and "What is she doing?" How I
answer those questions will determine what my song is about. Now, you may answer them in very
different ways than I do and that's just fine. There could be several songs written with the title
"California Girl" and they would all be different. My "California Girl" is no longer the teenager of
the Beach Boys songs. I want to know how her life turned out, what she thinks about when she
remembers those long ago golden summers. This has a strong emotional pull for me so that's the
song I should write.
3. You might want to write a party song or a song about young lovers on a beach. Your choice
will depend on which of those ideas has the strongest emotional appeal for you - THAT is the song
you should write.
4. Notice that I didn't start this song by wanting to tell a story or relive something that happened
to me. Instead, I am just following my feelings.
5. This is how songwriting (or writing poetry) teaches you about yourself. If you already know
what you want to write, don't write a song, write an essay. A song is about DISCOVERING!
Tension/release
Generate lyric and title ideas. Deny and then fulfill expectations. Make a satisfying
structure.
Assignment: Brainstorming
Description: After a demonstration and discussion about how various songs use the tension release
technique students will consider how to use these ideas in their own songs.
Musical literacy
Read music reviews. Analyze vocabulary. Music theory, Nature of Sound, Harmonic Series
Musical literacy
Read music articles. Analyze vocabulary. Internalize new words. Answer short quizzes.
Assignment: Homework Assignments
Description: On the Blogger page there is a link to an online review of music. Students
are asked to read the article. Define 10 selected words from the article. Create original sentences
from those ten words in the article and answer a short quiz about the article.
Harmonic Series
Lecture, then give a hand-out and a short quiz.
1. Nature of Sound
2. How various instruments create
sounds
3. Scales
Lecture: The Science of sound
Description: Students will watch a short presentation on the nature of sound and hearing. After a
short Q and A the class will discuss the nature and social aspects of music. Finally the class will
hear a short explanation of how sounds are produced by the various instruments.
Group Work: Scales
Description: Students will each be given an instrument and will be taught how to play several
consecutive notes. Once each student has successfully created a sound the class will attempt to play
the notes simultaneously.