Building knowledge of context

1. When it was written

2. the message behind the song

2.1. Skills that we can learn from the piece

3. Language

3.1. Meaning

3.2. dialect

3.3. history/use of language

3.3.1. Storytelling/folk songs/etc

3.4. words that might have dual meaning or represent something specific to culture/time/place

4. Theory of piece

4.1. harmonic progression

4.2. Form

4.3. Notation

4.4. tonality, articulation, phrases

4.5. Elements of Music in general... texture, rhythm, scales/modes, etc.

5. Meaning, message

5.1. do different people perceive the song to have different meaning?

6. connection between music and words (if there are words)

7. connection to larger Unit (MYP)

8. Integration with unit of inquiry

9. Purpose

10. country

10.1. region

10.2. cultural group

10.3. city

10.4. history of country

10.4.1. what was happening at the time of the composition?

11. Composer

11.1. life, work

11.2. timeline (year of life, year the piece was written)

11.3. what inspired this composer to write this piece

12. Expressive Qualities

12.1. how do the lyrics influence the dynamics/rhythmic structure

12.2. tone quality

13. Song genre or style

13.1. performance techniques

13.2. Characteristics of the genre that can be found in authentic performances that are referenced (or missing) in the repertoire

13.3. authentic translation

14. structure/form of the piece

14.1. To explore different ways of performance

15. Students can compose or arrange something in the style of this piece

15.1. ability to analyze what makes up the piece - what are the building blocks they might use to inspire their own piece(s)

16. different versions/arrangements

17. choice of instruments, voices