Choosing to dive deep into your music before you ever hit "record" is like finding a map before you start an adventure. When you explore the story behind an artist, the challenges they faced or the community they were trying to reach, you stop being just a listener and start becoming a storyteller. This preparation helps you move past the "how" of playing notes and into the "why" of making music. By understanding the roots of your chosen style, you can set goals that are much more exciting than just finishing a task; you can aim to capture a specific mood, honour a tradition, or master a technical "power-up" that makes your work truly stand out.
As you look into these big questions, you will start to see that music is a global conversation that has been going on for centuries. You’ll discover how the personal life of a musician in a small town or a big city can change the way they use rhythm or lyrics, which helps you realize that your own life and surroundings are just as valuable to your creative voice. Whether you are connecting a modern beat to its historical ancestors or figuring out how to use a new piece of production software to share your message, you are proving that your music has a purpose. You aren't just completing a form; you are claiming your place in that long line of creators.
In our online classroom, technology is the bridge that connects your ideas to the world. Taking the time to plan your practice means you are taking charge of your own growth. It’s okay if you don't have all the answers right away: that’s exactly what the research process is for! By the time you finish your practice plan, you’ll have the confidence of knowing exactly what you want to achieve and the tools you need to get there. You’ve got a unique perspective to share, and this preparation is the first step in making sure your audience hears exactly what you want to say. You can do it!
Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.
Download and submit your Canva presentation or infographic including:
We are learning to:
Research and connect the background of a musician to their musical style
Analyze the impact of artists on their communities and musical traditions
Plan for technical growth by identifying specific production or performance goals
I can:
Explain the origins of my chosen music based on its culture and describe the contributions of the individual artist
Analyze the relationship between my music and its traditional roots, identifying where this music is typically performed
Identify a specific musical genre and set a clear goal for improving my music production or performance skills
| Category | Level 4 | Level 3 | Level 2 | Level 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Knowledge/Understanding
How well do you understand the cultural and historical context of your music?
|
Demonstrates a thorough understanding of cultural origins and artist contributions | Demonstrates a considerable understanding of cultural origins and artist contributions | Demonstrates some understanding of cultural origins and artist contributions | Demonstrates limited understanding of cultural origins and artist contributions |
|
Thinking/Inquiring
How effectively do you connect the artist's background to their musical output?
|
Independent and insightful connections made between background and music | Clear connections made between background and music | Some connections made between background and music | Limited connections made between background and music |
|
Application
How well do you apply your research to set personal improvement goals?
|
Sets highly specific and relevant goals for technical or production improvement | Sets clear and relevant goals for technical or production improvement | Sets general goals for technical or production improvement | Sets vague or unfocused goals for technical or production improvement |
|
Communication
How clearly do you express the impact and purpose of the music?
|
Communicates ideas with a high degree of clarity using appropriate musical terminology | Communicates ideas with considerable clarity using musical terminology | Communicates ideas with some clarity | Communicates ideas with limited clarity |
Demonstrates a thorough understanding of cultural origins and artist contributions
Demonstrates a considerable understanding of cultural origins and artist contributions
Demonstrates some understanding of cultural origins and artist contributions
Demonstrates limited understanding of cultural origins and artist contributions
Independent and insightful connections made between background and music
Clear connections made between background and music
Some connections made between background and music
Limited connections made between background and music
Sets highly specific and relevant goals for technical or production improvement
Sets clear and relevant goals for technical or production improvement
Sets general goals for technical or production improvement
Sets vague or unfocused goals for technical or production improvement
Communicates ideas with a high degree of clarity using appropriate musical terminology
Communicates ideas with considerable clarity using musical terminology
Communicates ideas with some clarity
Communicates ideas with limited clarity