Cecilia Roudabush, Director of Education
Student composers in music class? Have you pictured that for ALL of your students? Writing actual melodies and rhythms and blending them together to form harmonies? What if they could add dynamics, create form and choose tone color? Previously, before I went to my first Hyperscore workshop in 2007, I would never have dreamed there was a program out there that could let my students compose a piece of music that was uniquely their own with little to no knowledge of music theory.
What do students bring to your music room?
Every student that walks in your music room brings in their own unique voice and creativity. Accordingly, what you accomplish in lessons and activities depends on their ability and willingness to share their skills and try out new ideas. Be that as it may, you have the opportunity to expand their skills by presenting composition as a way to learn music content and theory. Another methodology is to “invert the pedagogy” which allows their creativity to guide your presentation of concepts.
What can we give you to help guide student composers?
The following video will hopefully convince you to give composition a try in your classroom this year while proving that Hyperscore is a unique and easy way to accomplish that goal:
These composition guide videos will be linked to from the free Resources for Educators found on our website. Additionally, you will find other supports with our 1) Tool Tips and the 2) Rhythm, Melody, Harmony and Dynamics and Form and Tone Color Modules loaded on our Resources page. However, if you can’t find an answer to a question or you need a lesson idea, contact me at:
cecilia.roudabush@newharmonyline.org
We are here to help you guide your student composers in 2022-2023 and beyond!