Music Appreciation-Period 1 Assignments

Please research a piece of music by an artist of your choice. Please find either the guitar tabs and/or the chords to that song/piece. You may work alone, or in a group. This assignment will be presented on Friday, April 17th, 2026.

3 class periods (Wednesday, January 14th-Friday, January 16th)



Student device or school Chromebook
Headphones
Google Doc 


📌 STUDENT DIRECTIONS 
You will complete . Each day includes:

Listening to assigned music examples
Answering written reflection questions
Submitting work at the end of Day 3
You must work .


🗓️ DAY 1 – Music & Mood
🎧 Listening Examples (Wednesday, January 14th)
Choose of the following pieces to listen to:

**Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy
**Symphony No. 5 (1st movement) – Ludwig van Beethoven
**Adagio for Strings – Samuel Barber
(Find recordings on YouTube or Spotify.)

✍️ Written Response (Answer ALL)



What emotions does this music make you feel?



What musical elements help create that mood?

Tempo
Dynamics
Instruments


Where could this music be used? (Movie scene, event, game, etc.)


1 full paragraph (5–7 sentences)



🗓️ DAY 2 – Music & Storytelling
🎧 Listening Examples (Thursday, January 15th)
Choose piece that tells a story or paints a picture:

**The Four Seasons: Spring – Antonio Vivaldi
**Night on Bald Mountain – Modest Mussorgsky
**Ride of the Valkyries – Richard Wagner

✍️ Written Response



What do you think is happening in the music?



What specific sounds or moments helped you imagine this story?



Does the music change throughout? How?



1 full paragraph



🗓️ DAY 3 – Modern Music Analysis
🎧 Listening Examples (Friday, January 16th)
Choose (from 2000–present) that is .
✍️ Written Response



What genre is the song?



Describe:

Beat/rhythm
Melody
Lyrics or message


How is this song similar to or different from the classical pieces you listened to on Days 1–2?



1 full paragraph


📥 FINAL SUBMISSION (End of Day 3)

Students must turn in:

(one per day)
Labeled
Typed

Part 1:
Look up a video on YouTube of a High School Band, Choir, or Orchestra performance. Use the Rubric to evaluate the performance. Please elaborate for each category. You may make a slide show or complete this in a Google Document. 

Try to find a piece that you are familiar with at first.

Part 2:
Use the same piece that you just evaluated, and now find another high school group that performed the same piece. For example, If you selected "Defying Gravity" and the group North High School Choir performed it, you will need to find another high school choir that is performing "Defying Gravity". Use the rubric to evaluate their performance. Then you will compare and contrast both ratings. Please list things that are considered objective in music and subjective in music.

Objective: Based on facts, data, and reality (independent of personal feelings) Example: The temperature is 70 degrees.
Subjective: Based on personal opinions, emotions, and perspectives, varying from person to person. Example: It's hot in here.

You will present your findings on Monday, January 12th, and Tuesday, January 13th.

Please complete this assignment using your own Google Document. Follow the instructions for each section. This assignment will be due on Thursday, January 29th.

No cell phones until after everyone has finished!

Each Group will be given a period to create a review for...

Middle Ages (450-1450)
Renaissance (1450-1600)
Baroque (1600-1750)
Classical (1750-1820)
Romantic (1820-1900)

You will need to create a powerpoint with the highlights and then create a Kahoot quiz of 20-30 questions to help the class review.

Attend the Winter Concert on Thursday, December 4th at 6 pm in the RHS MUB.

Write a paper on what you observed.

Will post more specifics soon.

*Find a Romantic Composer, and also find a modern day composer. You will find two of their pieces and compare and contrast. We will listen to the two different pieces next week.
*What elements are the same? What elements are different?
*You may choose whatever composer you would like (Even ones that I have not mentioned).

Please identify the following notes. These are the first 6 notes we have learned so far on the guitar.

Listen to each piece and record your answer. Quiz is multiple choice.

Based off of the questions that you got correct, what made it easy to identify the pieces? Based off of any questions that you got incorrect, what made it harder to identify those pieces?

Write a paragraph or two explaining why.

*Play a few pieces and guess the name of the piece and the composer.
*Pick your favorite composer out of the Baroque and Classical Period.
*Write a short paper (one to two paragraphs) on why they are your favorite.
*List examples.
*What is your favorite piece that they have composed (it doesn’t have to be the ones that I have played).
*After you have finished writing your paper, please pick a partner.
*Read your paper to each other. If you both have different composers, compare and contrast your composer and their composer below your essay (on the same paper). If they are the same, find someone else with a different composer.

Objective:
To explore the history, characteristics, and personal significance of a musical instrument of your choice.

Instructions:
Write a 1–2 page essay about a musical instrument that interests you. This can be one you play, would like to play, or simply find fascinating.

Your essay should include:
   1.    Introduction
   •    What is the instrument you chose?
   •    Why did you pick it?
   2.    History & Background
   •    When and where was the instrument invented?
   •    How has it changed over time?
   •    Which cultures or genres of music is it most commonly used in?
   3.    Description of the Instrument
   •    What does it look like?
   •    How is it played? (blown, plucked, bowed, struck, etc.)
   •    What materials is it usually made from?
   •    What is its typical range or sound like?
   4.    Personal Connection
   •    Do you play this instrument? If so, describe your experience.
   •    If not, why do you want to learn it or why does it interest you?
   •    Favorite piece or song you’ve heard played on it.
   5.    Conclusion
   •    Sum up why this instrument is special to you or to music in general.

Formatting:
   •    Include your name, date, and class period at the top.
   •    Use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Cite all sources!!

Bonus Challenge (optional):
Include a drawing or photo of the instrument, or research a famous musician who plays it and write a short paragraph about them.