Activity 4: Visual Representation

Objective:

 Students will create a motif using notation software and combine them with peers to

create a march in the correct form.

 Students will perform their group’s composition in front of their peers.

Purpose:

 To gain a better understanding of working with others, motifs, and march form.

Lesson:

 Begin with discussion:

o Do you remember when we talked about how Shostakovich used
chromaticism to express sarcasm and anger? What do you think you would
write an entire musical about? Think about it a minute then if you feel so
inclined tell your neighbor or write it down on a scrap piece of paper.
o This assignment is kind of odd but I think it will help all of you see that all
art is worth studying. Once you have decided what it is you would write a
musical about (or a symphony, or a concerto, or anything musical) I want you to
create a visual representation of the topic.
o Everything is outlined in this Student Guide but of course come to me with
questions. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy or expensive just
something that shows what you would write about. We will be sharing these
in front of the class.
Assessment:
 Students will be assessed using the rubric in the Student Guide on the next page.
 Visual Representation Student Guide

Due Date: [1 week after we talked about it in class]

Instructions:

 Create a visual representation for the topic you chose that you would write a large
musical work about. Keep in mind it doesn’t have to be serious. Shostakovich wrote
about a serious topic but made it funny. You could do the opposite.
 Present the visual representation to the class talking about the topic you choose and how
it relates to the representation. It doesn’t have to be long but I want to see the
connections between your topic and what you chose to put in the representation.
o Write down what you are going to say.
 Note: It doesn’t have to be painted, sculpted, or created at all with the hands. Feel free to
use technology and create a collage, a power point, anything that is visually grabbing.
 Get your topic approved by me, by submitting a text entry on Canvas.

0 1 2 3

No topic selected and A topic was approved Topic approved by

Topic Selection approved by teacher. and then changed teacher
without the teacher’s
knowledge.
No Visual Visual representation Visual Representation Visual Representation
Represenation created with no effort created but little created by student
Creation found as to how it effort found as to how with explanations of
connects to the topic they connect to the how they relate
topic.
No presentation Presentation is given Presentation is given Presentation is given
Presentation given. but no written with a few problems with evidence of
document was turned in execution practice in execution.
in.