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12th, High School Grades  Project 4 weeks

Mix & Match: The Ableton Adventure

Lucas E
Updated
MA:Pr4.1.iii
Effective Communication
Content Expertise
Collaboration
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
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Purpose

Dive into the world of music production by studying and applying advanced music theory to create original compositions using Ableton Live. Your journey will explore merging different musical genres to develop innovative sounds, enhancing your understanding and skills in digital audio workstations. Collaborate with peers and community experts, engage in meaningful critique and revision processes, and communicate your progress through exhibitions and reflective practices.

Learning goals

Your learning goals include mastering the use of Ableton Live to produce music, deepening your understanding of music theory, and exploring the fusion of different musical genres to create original compositions. Throughout the project, you'll focus on collaborating effectively with your peers and refining your work through ongoing critique and revision sessions. You will also aim to enhance your communication skills by presenting your musical creations and reflecting on your development process in both written and oral formats.

Standards
  • [National Core Arts Standards] MA:Pr4.1.iii - HS Advanced: Synthesize various arts, media arts forms and academic content into unified media arts productions that retain artistic fidelity across platforms, such as transdisciplinary productions.
Competencies
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

By the end of this project, you will have produced a portfolio of music tracks that demonstrate your understanding of music theory and your ability to use Ableton Live. This portfolio will include initial compositions, various draft iterations showcasing edits and improvements, and one or more finalized tracks that explore unique sound fusions across different genres. Throughout the process, you and your partner will engage in regular critique and revision sessions to refine your work and ensure each piece resonates with your intended audience. You will also create reflective blog entries and journals that document your learning journey, challenges faced, and creative breakthroughs, providing depth and insight into your project experience.

Launch

Kick off your project with an interactive music genre exploration session. Collaborate in small groups to listen to diverse musical genres and discuss their unique characteristics and influences on contemporary music. Together, brainstorm how these genres can be integrated into new compositions. By sharing musical preferences and insights, you'll establish a collaborative foundation and spark initial creative ideas for your music production journey.

Exhibition

Design an interactive listening booth at the exhibition where visitors can experience your musical journey by hearing the progression from initial drafts to the final produced pieces. Facilitate a gallery walk where guests can provide written feedback and engage in discussions about the evolution of your music. Collaborate with peers to incorporate a multimedia presentation that includes your reflective insights and creative process, showcasing how music theory and digital tools have shaped your work.