Grade 6 (Q1/L1/2016/2017) : Composer Research Project

You will choose a composer to research from this list (composer list).  After completing research on your composer, you will answer questions on a planning sheet, write a paper and then make a visual aid to present to the class and play a composition written by the composer.  This project will be broken down into manageable steps over the course of a 2-3 weeks.

Planning

Once you are done researching your composer, fill out the planning sheet (which can be downloaded from google drive).  This will help you to organize your thoughts for your paper but will also be turned in as part of your final project grade.

Rough Draft

Using the information on your planning sheet, create a rough draft of your paper.  Your paper should be at least 1 page double spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font.

Rough draft must be printed out.  We will be editing them with a partner in class.

It should include the following information…

• Composer’s place and date of birth.
• The period of music during which the composer wrote.
• Instruments the composer played, how he/she learned to play those instruments, and how he/she became involved in music.
• At least two examples and descriptions of important pieces written by the composer.  What do they sound like?  What are they written for? (You will want to include one of these as a listening example)
• At least two events that happened during the composers career.  What interesting things happened during the composer’s lifetime?
• A description of at least one other thing that was going on in history during this time period.
• When and how the composer died.

Final Paper

After peer editing, create a finalized version of your paper.  This should be…

• 1 page in length
• Double spaced
• Times New Roman font
• 12 point font
• Written in complete sentences

Visual Aid

With your project, you should include a visual aid to assist in your presentation.

This can be an image, slide show, poster, or print out of a piece written by the composer.

A detailed explanation of this visual aid must be included in the presentation.  If you chose to include a picture of a piece of music, why is that piece of music significant?

Presentation and Listening

Everyone will be asked to give a short presentation on their research to the class.

This will include a short listening example of a notable work by the chosen composer. Please select a piece of music that is highlighted in your paper.

Due Date : 23rd September 2016