| Block Name |
Description |
"Rock Improvisation and Evaluation"
(Creating Block)
 |
Students performed improvisations to a rock music background and created an original melody. Students sang a vocal improvisation with the rock background music. Students answered self-evaluation questions about their performances.
 |
"Shalom, My Friends"
(Responding Block)
 |
Students discussed features of an example of Japanese koto music. Students analyzed features of a choral arrangement of the song "Shalom, My Friends" and Scott Joplin's "Pine Apple Rag." Students contrasted stylistic elements present in excerpts of music from Brahms' First Symphony with two pieces by composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. |
"Musical Texture"
(Responding Block)
 |
Students analyzed textural elements of excerpts of music from a flute solo by Chaminade, a fugue by J.S. Bach, and a Native American flute solo. Students analyzed and compared two different versions of "Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage?" (One version of the music was by G.F. Handel and the other was a jazz performance by Al Jarreau.) Students analyzed form and other features of an African dance song and a Japanese folk song. |
"Michael Row the Boat Ashore"
(Responding Block)
 |
Students demonstrated understanding of phrase structure, instrumentation, and melodic contour of a performance of the folk song "Au Clair de la Lune." Students answered questions dealing with standard melodic and rhythmic music notation. Students provided a critique of a vocal performance of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore." Students analyzed functional uses and stylistic features of excerpts from Sousa's "The Washington Post March," Brahms' "Lullaby," and the spiritual "Wade in the Water." |
"Minuet in G"
(Responding Block)
 |
Students provided a critique of a violin performance of "Minuet in G" by J.S. Bach, described features and answered questions about excerpts of string quartet music by George Crumb, "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin, and the W. Schuman arrangement of Charles Ives' "Variations on America." |
"'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'/'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'"
(Creating and Performing Block)
 |
Students improvised a rhythmic accompaniment and a harmonic accompaniment for an instrumental arrangement of the popular tune "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Students performed the melody "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" by ear on the MIDI keyboard. |
" 'Ode to Joy' / Sing 'America' "
(Creating and Performing Block)
 |
Students performed the first two phrases of the melody "Ode to Joy" by ear on the MIDI keyboard. Students created a rhythmic embellishment based on the first two phrases of the tune "Ode to Joy." Students sang the melody to the song "America" ("My Country 'Tis of Thee") along with a full chorus accompaniment on audiotape. |
"Jazz Improvisation and Melodic Sight-Reading"
(Creating and Performing Block)
 |
Students performed a solo of their choice. Students performed two brief jazz improvisations with their instrument or voice. Students sight-read an eight-measure melody with their instrument or voice. |
"Large Ensemble"
(Performing Block)
 |
Students performed a solo of their choice. Students performed an excerpt from a large ensemble piece along with a full ensemble accompaniment recorded on audiotape. Students listened to their performance and then answered self-evaluation questions about their singing or playing. |
