First Week of Fifth Grade

This is my first week of fifth grade, and I am trying out a new project.  New students, new project, new ideas, new thoughts, new year!!  The project reads like this:

DYNAMIC PROJECT CHECKLIST -Create their own compositions by applying the knowledge and skills of notation, symbols, and terminology of dynamics.   

1. LEARN THE DEFINITIONS OF THESE DYNAMICS AND WRITE THEM ON THE LINES

FORTISSIMO__________________________

FORTE_____________________________

MEZZO-FORTE________________________

MEZZO-PIANO___________________________

PIANO____________________________________

PIANISSIMO_________________________________

2.  WRITE DOWN EXAMPLES OF THESE DYNAMICS IN REAL SITUATIONS.

EX: FORTISSIMO: AN AVALANCHE OR A FIRE ALARM.

3.  GO TO THE PIANO LAB AND EXPERIMENT ON THE PIANO WITH THESE DYNAMICS, FINDING WAYS TO MAKE THESE DIFFERENT DYNAMICS.

4.  CREATE A PIECE THAT YOU WRITE DOWN IN YOUR OWN WAY,  USING ALL THE DYNAMICS YOU HAVE LEARNED.

5.  BE SURE TO LABEL YOUR PIECE WITH ALL THE DYNAMICS YOU HAVE LEARNED: YOU CAN USE FF, F, MF, MP, P, AND PP, OR YOU CAN WRITE THEM OUT IN FULL.

6.  PRACTICE YOUR PIECE IN THE LAB.

7.  PLAY YOUR PIECE FOR ME, FOR A GROUP, OR FOR THE CLASS, YOUR CHOICE!

8.  USE YOUR TIME WISELY.

9.  ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU NEED HELP.

10.  USE YOUR CREATIVITY AND THE NOTES OF THE PIANO TO CREATE YOUR PIECE, USE YOUR OWN IMAGINATIVE WAY TO WRITE DOWN YOUR PIECE, SO YOU CAN PLAY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.  YOU CAN USE NUMBERS, NOTES, PICTURES, WORDS, WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU!!  

I am trying to get students to be creative, think outside the box, and not be intimidated by reading notes or trying to understand rhythms. Just experiment with the piano and see what comes out. Also, there is a larger, more specific purpose: To have students show their understanding and ability to use different dynamics: fortissimo, forte, mezzo forte, mezzo piano, piano and pianissimo.

So far, there were a few students who were intimidated by the piano just because they have never played it before. But when I told them they didn't have to know how to play it, they just had to make things up and write them down the way they want to, there was a sigh of relief, and I will keep you posted. I am hoping they will come up with some really interesting things, and use the dynamics in their favor, but also just have some fun before reading music gets really complicated and serious. We shall see!!