5th Grade General Music
Underscoring Literature Project | Class Portfolio
scroll to see to hear the stories
THe assignments
to musically underscore a piece of literature by composing musical themes in Noteflight©, an online music notation application, and curate other musical sounds, loops, beats, patterns, and sound effects in Soundtrap©, a powerful online music recording workstation.
to study literary and compositional devices, leitmotifs, key characteristics of different music genres, and build strong references for their compositions.
THe big picture
students gain experience composing music applying their knowledge of music fundamentals while gaining relevant and powerful experiences in production techniques practicing 21st century music-making. They learn to leverage skills, proficiencies, and creativity as they create soundscapes that tell stories and artistically express themselves.
Ethan, Liam J., and Nicolas
The Story
A peg-leg sailor aids enslaved people on their escape on the Underground Railroad. An enslaved family make their escape to freedom by following the song's directions hidden in a song, "Follow the Drinking Gourd."
Listen out for
The Big Dipper/Drinking Gourd and Suspense Leitmotif's throughout.
Look out for
The melodic shape of the Drinking Gourd Leitmotif mimics the shape of the constellation.
Davis, Max, & Ryan
The Story
We face emotional challenges everyday. What should we do when things don't go to plan? We may feel mad, frustrated, or overwhelmed, but by talking it through, compromising, and seeing another point of view, we can start fresh, begin anew.
Listen out for
The heroic leitmotif, Coping with Emotions, and its highs and lows and the fast rhythms of the Excitement Leitmotif.
Look out for
The many emotions on the faces in the drawings and the loops we chose to pair with them
Look out for
The colorful instruments and the percussion loops I paired with them.
William
The Story
No one on the island questioned the strict rule, Girls cannot be drummers—until the drum dream girl. She practiced in secret until she changed the island's mind. Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers.
Listen out for
The Drum Dream Girl Leitmotif and its fast rhythms and the many percussion loops.
Ben, Liam B., Simms
The Story
The Christmas story, inspired by refugee children everywhere. After Jesus is born he flees to Egypt hoping to escape Herod's soldiers with his mother, Mary and Joseph.
Listen out for
The low notes in the leitmotif, Dream of Danger and our minimal music.
Look out for
Minimalist plain artwork
Cielo & Lila
The Story
A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world of wonder and adventure.
Listen out for
The sweet Friendship and fun Adventure leitmotifs.
Look out for
This story has no words so the pictures and music are very important.
Jack & Xander
The Story
A young boy. A busy Dad. A sick Mama. Through the music the young boy feels his dad's warm hugs and his mama's kisses. He learns to relax, shine, and dream as the music fills his soul.
Listen out for
Rhythmic Trouble Making Leitmotif and the vocal loops
Look out for
The colorful rainbows and the loops loops we paired with them.
Look out for
Generations hidden in the pictures
Brooks & Fransisco
The Story
On an island a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from the earth--especially berries. Through the seasons, they sing to the land as the land sings to them.
Listen out for
Cinematic builds and the Adventure Leitmotif (we made it sounds a little bit like Duran Duran)
