Play That Tune!

Intended School Level: High School AP Music Theory class

Project Purpose: The purpose is to introduce students to music technology programs.
With this, they can use these programs to create sheet music and record themselves
playing.
Project Goals: Students will use music technology programs to improve their musical
skills. They will also improve their aural skills by figuring out chord changes and melodic
lines. Introducing the students to this music technology will help them understand it and
potentially use it in the future.
Resources Needed: Students will need a computer and access to the internet, to a piano,
and to an instrument of their choice. They will also need to create a BandHub profile
(which is free). Students will also need headphones.
Duration of Project: Students will have one week to complete this project.
Prior Student Knowledge Required: Students should already know how to read treble and
bass clef. They should also be able to play one instrument of their choice and have a basic
knowledge of piano. It would be helpful for students to have knowledge about chord
progressions, but it is not necessary (they could easily look up the chords to songs).
Project Steps:
1. Choose a favorite song.
2. Find the chords for the song (the student can look online if they are
struggling).
3. Figure out the melody of the song.

4. Use a music writing program (ex: NoteFlight, Finale, Sibelius, etc.) to

create a piano and instrumental part. (Note: you do not have to write out the entire
song, just a section of it)
5. Use the website BandHub to record two tracks of yourself playing the piano
part and the instrumental part. (Record one track first, then listen to it with
headphones while you record the second track.)
6. Upload the recording.
7. Turn in the sheet music and email me a link of the BandHub recording.
8. Feel free to be creative and make more parts in the sheet music and/or
tracks in the BandHub recording! Make it groove!
Rubric:
Criteria

4 pts

3 pts

2 pts

1pts

Technological
Skills

Student
demonstrates
superior
knowledge of
technological
skills.

Student
demonstrates an
appropriate
understanding of
technological
skills.

Student
demonstrates
some
understanding of
technological
skills.

Student
demonstrates
minimal
understanding of
technological
skills.

Application

Student follows all

directions. (Sheet
music is turned in
and BandHub
links are emailed)

Student follows
most directions.
Student may have
missed a step.

Student follows
some directions.
Student may have
missed a couple
steps.

Student did not

follow directions.
Student missed
many of the steps.

Overall Product

The whole project

is put together
well and flows
cohesively.

Few errors but it

does not affect the
overall sound.

There are many

errors that disrupt
the flow of the
project.

The project is not

cohesive at all.

x2 = Total Points: 24