Experiencing Music Composition in Middle School General Music

Experiencing Music Composition in Middle School General Music is designed to help teachers and students create original music through materials and activities that are enticing and accessible. The text offers an innovative approach to composition teaching and learning to promote the development of the compositional capacities of feelingful intention, musical expressivity, and artistic craftsmanship. With instructional materials aligned to real world tasks from the genres of songwriting/choral music, composition and visual media, instrumental music, electronic music and digital media, and music theater, program activities easily fit into existing curricular frames. Students will transition from participation in teacher-facilitated whole class lessons to more independent compositional work using Sketchpages to guide their critical and creative thinking. These unique graphic organizers blend elements of the composer’s notebook with doodle space to help students plan compositions, track their thinking through the compositional process, and document their analysis of completed works.

Michele Kaschub and Janice P. Smith bring over 50 years of experience in music composition research and pedagogy to the creation of the Experiencing Music Composition approach. As authors, editors, clinicians, and workshop leaders, they have worked with educators throughout the United States and abroad to expand the compositional opportunities available to K-12 students and their teachers.