Developing Engaging, Enriching, Empowering, and
Creative Composition Projects for Your Classroom
ILMEA Summer Learning Series
Jesse Rathgeber
Painting with Sound
(informed by Barrett & Hickey)
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Spark: Abstract or abstract expressionist artwork. These works allow for a great deal of student interpretation and do not often overtly suggest specific sounds/forms/etc. Example artists include: Dali, Delaunay, Duchamp, Ernst, Frankenthaler, Gorky, Johns, Kandinksi, Klee, Matisse, Miro, Mondrian, Picasso, Pollock, and Rothko.
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Prompt: Considering the texture and colors you see, use multiple instruments to sonically represent your painting.
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Extension: Record each work using a web-based tool like Soundcloud. Post each piece of artwork on the wall and have a computer playing the accompanying music as individuals walk by. Also, create QR codes for each song and post the code next to the artwork so that individuals can listen to the works at their own pace.
Visual Sparks and Prompts
Visual means often inspired composers. Examples include John Lennon's use of his son's drawing to create "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. The following list includes some visually inspired music composing projects:
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Spark: A work of architecture (a building). Select either famous buildings or local/familiar buildings. Example buildings include: the Taj Mahal, la Sagrada Familia, the Parthenon, the White House, Burj Al Arab, the Coltejer Building, Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, the Alamo, Palace of Westminster, the Robie House, the Salk Institute, and the Guggenheim.
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Prompt: Create a short musical work that represents the form of your building.
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Extension: Organize all the buildings into an imaginary skyline and perform the work in that order.
Building a Song
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Spark: A single page out a visually complex children’s book. Example books include: Fortunately (Charlip), In a Small, Small Pond, In the Tall, Tall Grass, Beetle Bop (all by Fleming), Cactus Hotel (Guiderson & Lloyd), The Feelings Book (Parr), When Lion Roars (Raschka), Imagine a Night, and Imagine a Day (both by Thomson & Gonsalves).
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Prompt: Create a 60 second musical accompaniment for your page. Use your page as a score for your work. Consider how you will include the text in your work, if the page has text.
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Extension: If you use one book for an entire class or grade level, record the works to include with the book or have a live reading/performance of the work.
This Page Sounds Amazing
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Spark: Line drawings. Students create single drawings with each line spanning the page without intersecting or doubling back on itself. Students might also trace skylines or find interesting lines around them.
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Prompt: Imagine that your line drawing is a melodic contour. What would it sound like? Realize the melodic contour using your voice. What could its color and/or thickness represent?
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Extension: Combine multiple lines or develop a counter melody line to create a work with harmony.
Drawing Up a Melody
