Final Creative Project: General Assignment Instructions
General Information
Towards the end of the semester, you will work with your group to compose a final work of performance art. In essence, your group will brainstorm an issue with which you are concerned and then craft a musical representation of this idea. Given the avant-garde nature of some 20th and 21st century art, your group is expected to push the boundaries of music and art with a unique, creative, and fun performative expression. We will complete at least five workdays to organize and construct your final project, and each of these workdays will be graded. The first steps will focus on deciding on an idea of focus, while the latter steps will focus on construction and resources.
The project contains several components: five workdays, an in-class performance, a short essay, and a final group assessment.
Final Creative Project Essay
On the day of your final performance, your group must also submit a short final paper, outlining the ideological goals of your project, your performance choices, and the rationale behind these choices. Your paper should serve as your pointed and powerful introduction to your composition.
Formatting and Submission Guidelines (Essay)
Papers should be 1-2 pages, written in 12-point font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Please cite all outside sources appropriately. (APA, Chicago, MLA – your choice!) Your group will upload one copy of your final paper to Canvas, submitting only one copy per group.
Required Content (Essay)
Introduction: This portion of your paper should include a clear thesis that states the big concept and goals of your final project. This section asks you to introduce your audience to the big goals of your project. You could include big philosophical ideas, aesthetic issues, or the core components of your ideas. (1 paragraph)
Justification of Concept: This portion of your paper should include a discussion of the concept with powerful ideological tenets (more than one) to underpin your big conceptual idea. Please incorporate at least two outside sources to validate your concept and ideological goals. (2-3 paragraphs)
Goals of Concept as Realized in Musical Expression: This portion of your paper should include a detailed rationale regarding your musical choices. Why did you make these choices, and how do they express your concept and ideological goals? What makes these musical or artistic choices creative? (2-3 paragraphs)
Conclusion: This portion of your paper should reiterate what you want the audience to “take away” from your performance. (1 paragraph)
Grading
Your composition, one-page overview, and album artwork are graded using the following rubric.
Final Creative Project: Assignment Steps
The following images show how the assignment is broken down into a series of in-class workdays.
Final Group Assessment
At the conclusion of the group project, students assess their contributions and the contributions of each member. This survey is administered via Canvas and can be previewed below.
