Fanfare Competition - Riff Inspired Composition

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Year 7 & 8 Music:

• Experiment with texture and timbre in sound sources using aural skills (ACAMUM092).
• Structure compositions by combining and manipulating the elements of music using notation (ACAMUM095).
• Analyse composers’ use of the elements of music and stylistic features when listening to and interpreting music (ACAMUR097).

Syllabus Outcomes: MUS4.4, MUS4.5, MUS4.6, MUS4.7, MUS4.8, MUS4.9, MUS4.10. 

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking

Relevant parts of Year 7 and 8 achievement standards: Students identify and analyse how the elements of music are used in different styles and apply this knowledge in their performances and compositions. Students manipulate the elements of music and stylistic conventions to compose music. They use aural skills, music terminology and symbols to recognise, memorise and notate features, such as melodic patterns in music they perform and compose.

Unit of work: Artology Fanfare Competition.

Time needed: 60 minutes.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – teacher requires musical knowledge to guide student ideas.

Digital technology opportunities: GarageBand loops provide a quick means of showing the use of riffs.

• Device capable of presenting a video to the class
• Optional: Fanfare Competition DIY Student Toolkit

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Communication
• Creativity

This lesson is part of the Fanfare Competition unit. The unit is designed for students to build their aural and technical skills while exploring music as an art form through listening, composing and performing. Students are encouraged to apply their learning by planning and organising a composition for the Fanfare Competition.

The competition encourages young people aged 12‐21 years to write a new work to be recorded by the Australian Youth Orchestra and played in venues across Australia to replace the ‘cue bells’ for audiences to take their seats. It is a wonderful way to showcase young artists and musicians, and encourage creativity in young people.