Wisconsin Music Educators Association

Representing the shared interests and needs of Wisconsin music educators

  • Home
  • About
    • Our Purpose
    • Philosophy Statement
    • Position Statements
    • WMEA Wisconsin Music Standards
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  • Membership
    • Professional Membership
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  • Conference
  • CMP
  • Capitol Concerts
  • Annual Awards
    • Community Service Award
    • Distinguished Administrator Award
    • Distinguished Legislator Award
    • Distinguished School Board Member Award
    • Melvin F. Pontious Creative Sparks in Music Education Award
    • Michael G George Distinguished Service Award
    • Music Industry Award
    • Recognition for 25 Years of Service
    • Richard G. Gaarder Award
    • Award for Excellence in Teaching Music (WMEA/WSMA)
  • Resources & Learning
    • Advocacy
    • Aspiring Music Majors Program for Students
    • Mentoring
    • Music Standards
    • Workshops

Composition-Theory

Composition-Theory Maps*

  • Composition-Theory Strand – Artistic Processes (PDF)
  • Composition-Theory Strand – Level of Proficiency (PDF)

Learning in music theory/composition classes is most effective when students are actively involved and have quality aural experiences. Performing, working in small groups, active listening, creating, moving to music, and independent projects result in deeper learning than lectures and worksheets. Courses in music theory/composition, therefore, should provide opportunities for creating (electronic samples, small compositions, choral/orchestral arrangement, …); performing (voice, guitar/ukulele, keyboard, percussion, handbells, electronic generated music and other instruments); responding (movement, listening-based classes such as music history and literature); and making connections to other arts, disciplines, cultures, and personal life. Because creating, performing, responding, and connecting are the modes through which musical understandings are achieved, even theory-based classes should include appropriate performing and creating activities. Recommended activities, such as listening, performing, creating, improvising, and responding are efficient hands-on learning modes, attract and hold the students’ interest, and give students a key to lifelong enjoyment of music.

  • Composing and arranging music is an important creative activity and a means of personal expression. The performance of one’s own musical work is a source of great satisfaction as well as an important way of sharing musical inspiration with others. These creative activities are possible at any age, depending upon a person’s level of music skills and knowledge.
  • Students learn to appreciate music when they understand the elements of music and the way those elements are organized to create a music composition. Performance with understanding requires this same analysis and discussion. The ability to analyze music is the foundation for meaningful learning and participation in most other aspects of music experience.
  • Much like letters and words in a novel or a poem, music notation represents another language or symbolic system of communication. Unlike the written or spoken word, music and music notation transcend the boundaries of countries and cultures. Reading and notating music gives the students access to a vast body of contemporary and historical music literature, as well as to a unique mode of personal expression.

*Standards maps may be reproduced if Wisconsin Music Educators Association is cited as the original source.

  • WMEA Wisconsin Music Standards
  • Getting Started
  • Standards Maps
    • PK-8 General Music
    • Secondary General Music
    • Ensemble
    • Technology
    • Composition-Theory
    • Guitar-Keyboard-Harmonizing Instruments
  • CMP & the Standards Together
  • Connecting and Comparing to the 1994 National Standards
  • Resources & Teaching Materials
  • Acknowledgements

CONTACT US

WMEA
Wisconsin Center
for Music Education

1005 Quinn Drive
Waunakee, WI
53597

608-850-3566
800-589-9762

BUSINESS HOURS

Business Hours:
M-F 8am-4:30pm

QUICK LINKS

  • Advertising Partners
  • Advocacy
  • Board Access
  • Donate
  • Host an Event at the Center
  • Research Connection
  • WMEA Music Standards
  • WSM Magazine

NATIONAL AFFILIATES

  • NAfME
  • NAfME Collegiate
  • Tri-M Music Honor Society

FACEBOOK – JOIN US

  • WMEA Public Page
  • WMEA Private Group
  • CMP Public Group
  • WI NAfME Collegiate

Our Partners

Wisconsin School Music
Association


Wisconsin Foundation for
School Music

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