Bolingbrook High School Music Department

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Band in a Box - Accompanying Software Project

 

Objective

·        Understand and use the main features of Band-in-a-Box as accompaniment software

·        Chose the right settings to work with a MIDI keyboard

·        Create an accompaniment part for your own use

·        Understand and describe the limitations of Band-in-a-Box

 

Overview

The Project requires you:

1.      Create a Band in a Box file for a piece with chords and a melody

2.      Save a Standard MIDI file from your Band in a Box file

3.      Print the lead sheet and chords using your Band in a Box file

4.      Write a one page paper discussing the usefulness and limitations of Band in Box

 

Some possible Accompaniments you might need:

                1.      Accompaniment for solo/ensemble contest

                2.      Accompaniment for practicing

                3.      Accompaniment for a jazz/rock piece  

                4.      Accompaniment for improvisation

 

Directions

1.    Choose a piece of music that you or one of your peers might be able to use. Think about what your current needs are in regards to learning music or if you might have your own ensemble

2.    Using the skills you learned in class and the Band-in-a-Box manuals, enter your chords and record your melody. Make other settings and changes until you get the sound you want and a printed lead sheet that meets your needs.

3.     In a short paper, discuss these questions:

          A.     Why did you choose this piece of music? What can you or your peers use it for?

B.     Describe how you experimented with the program. What styles did you use? What advanced            settings or features did you use?

C.     Describe some of the strengths and weaknesses of Band in a Box for creating   accompaniments.

 

Lead sheet details

Your printed lead sheet should include melody and chords and be of good enough quality for your or another musician’s use.  It should have a title, composer name (if appropriate), and tempo marking. Do not print the lead sheet with a harmonized melody or with a bass clef staff. Study the Print dialog box carefully to select appropriate options.

 

Evaluation Criteria

BAND IN A BOX SOFTWARE PROJECT                                    Total                /80

GRADING RUBRIC

NAME                                                                         PERIOD                      DATE             

 

CREATE A LEADSHEET FOR A SONG WITH CHORDS AND MELODY(       /30)

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Include  melody and chords without harmony or bass staff                     /25

 

Many mistakes and Missing elements

 

Some Mistakes

 

Few or No Mistakes

5

10

15

20

25

 

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Should Include Title, composer name (if appropriate) and tempo marking.             /5

 

CREATE A STANDARD MIDI FILE FROM YOUR BAND IN A BOX FILE         /10

 

DISCUSSION PAPER            /25

  1. Answered all questions:

    1. Why did you choose this piece of music? 

    2. What problems did you inputting the melody, if any?  If you did, how did you solve the problems?

    3. Describe how you experimented with the program.  What styles did you use?  What advanced settings or features did you use?

    4. Describe some of the strengths and weaknesses of Band in a Box for creating accompaniments.

 

  Paper Only Glosses over the questions asked.  Appears to not put much thought into the personal implications of this project.

 

  Paper answers some of the questions in detail, with some thoughts put into personal implications.

 

  Paper answers all the questions in detail.  Good understanding is evident about personal implications of this project.

 

Missing or Only Glosses over Questions

 

Answers some questions in detail

 

Answers Questions in Good Detail

5

10

15

20

25

 

 

 

 

SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT BY COMPUTER       /5

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Create Folder Accompanying Software Project/your last name with three files:

  1. Band in a Box file.  (with file extension of. MGU)

  2. MIDI file.

  3. Discussion Paper (Word)

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Drag/Copy your folder to appropriate Submit Assignments Folder

 

HARD COPIES     /10

 Turn in printed copies of:

  1. A lead sheet.

  2. Your discussion paper

 

To complete this project:

--DETAILS OF TURNING THE PROJECT IN OVER THE NETWORK TO FOLLOW. BUT MAKE SURE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS COMPLETED

                1.    Your Band in the Box file with chords and a recorded melody

                    Be sure the file name ends in .MGU or what ever extension BIAB provides.

                2.     A Standard MIDI file saved from your Band in a Box file

                3.     A word processing file of your paper with the answers to the questions above.

 

Place the following materials in an envelope or folder labeled with your name, and hand it in to your instructor.:

1.    A good quality printed lead sheet with melody and chords, usable with students

2.    A printed copy of your paper with the answers to the questions above.