FAMEous Composers' Weblog

Welcome to the FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project FAMEbloggers Weblog!

Use this weblog to post reflections, comments, and questions you may have about the FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project. Don't forget to access this weblog often to communicate and collaborate with FAMEous Composer-In-Residence, David Crowe, Ms. Wendy Bloom, the Project Coordinator, your music teacher, and your FAMEous Student Composer Music Buddies!

Announcing the 2011-12 FAME FW Philharmonic FW Ballet Composition Project!

Again this year, several selected Northeast Indiana area Fourth Grade FAMEous Student Composers will engage in a once in a lifetime experience in music composition as they collaborate with FAME’s Composer-In-Residence, David Crowe to create a music composition to be performed by The Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company, at the Philharmonic at FAME, Celebration Of Youth Concert, at the FAME Northeast Festival, on Sunday, March 18, 2012, at 3:00 P.M., in the Anthony Wayne Ballroom, at the Grand Wayne Center, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

During music composition and “composium” sessions from 4:00-6:00 P.M., on October 24-27, at Haley Elementary School, at 2201 Maplecrest Rd., in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the FAMEous Fourth Grade Composers will first, compose, notate, and orchestrate their very own musical signature compositions, then, creatively collaborate with Mr. Crowe about how their musical ideas will be orchestrated into a final project composition inspired by themes from FAME’s 2011-12 cultural focus, FAME, Around the World In 25 Years, A Sea of Discoveries.

FAME and the PHIL’s ongoing collaboration with the Fort Wayne Ballet will continue this year, as once again, the composition’s premiere presentation will be enhanced with choreographed dance movements performed by the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company dancers. During the one of the “composium” sessions, Alexis Ingram, director of the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company will hold a creative movement session with the FAMEous Composers to communicate with them about how their musical ideas for the composition will impact and inspire dance movements that the Youth Company ballet students will create and perform for the project. The FAMEous Composers will meet with Ms. Ingram and student members of the ballet’s Youth Company on March 3, 2012, at 12:00-1:00 P.M., at the Fort Wayne Ballet Center, at 300 W. Main St., in Fort Wayne, for a pre-premiere presentation of their movement ideas for the composition and will engage in a collaborative exchange of creative reflections about their visual, kinesthetic, and cultural meanings.

Mr. Crowe will score the finished composition for symphonic orchestra, then, on Saturday, Saturday, March 17, 2011, at 10:00 A.M., in Room Jefferson C, at the Grand Wayne Center, will conduct a final "composium" session with the FAMEous Composers to analyze their musical ideas in the finished composition. The project will culminate with a 1:45 P.M. mini-rehearsal and the composition’s premiere performance by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company, at the Philharmonic at FAME, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Celebration of Youth Concert, on Sunday, March 18, 2012, at 3:00 P.M., in the Anthony Wayne Ballroom, at the Grand Wayne Center, in Fort Wayne.

The FAMEous Composers will access a project portfolio to complete various reflection assignments (posted below) to help stimulate creative input and facilitate feedback for assessment during the music composition, rehearsal, and performance process.

You can access additional information at the FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Fort Wayne Ballet Composition Project web page at: http://www.famearts.org/p_music

Wendy Bloom
Project Coordinator

2011-12 FAME FW Philharmonic FW Ballet Composition Project FAMEous Composers' Journal

Hi FAMEous Student Composers!

Welcome to the FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project Journal!

After each Composition and "Composium" session, the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company Rehearsal session the Official Rehearsal, and the Premiere Performance, write and post comments that reflect your creative experiences during the project. Your comments might include such things as:

new music terms and concepts that you have learned
your perceptions of being a professional composer
your reflections about your musical signature composition
your reflections about the musical composition you have helped to create
your impressions of the finished composition
your reflections about the dancer's creative movements
your reflections about the composition's official rehearsal and/or the premiere performance
your reflections about the FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project in general

Don't forget to sign your comment with your first name only.

2011-12 FAME FW Philharmonic FW Ballet Composition Project "Talk to the Composer" Forum

Post your reflections, questions, and comments to FAME Composer-In-Residence, Mr. David Crowe by adding comments below. Don't forget to sign your comment with your first name only. Mr. Crowe will respond back to you with a comment related to yours.

FAMEous Composer Official Rehearsal/Premiere Performance Critique

1. Did you enjoy the finished composition’s Official Rehearsal and Premiere Performance? How did you feel at the Premiere Performance?

2. What things were different between the Official Rehearsal and the Premiere Performance?

3. What was your favorite part of the Official Rehearsal? What was your favorite part of the Premiere Performance? What was the worst part of each?

4. Critique the finished Composition Project Composition. What did it sound like? What did you like about it (describe using the best musical terms that you can)? What did you dislike about it? What creative music composition techniques did Mr. Crowe use to weave your musical signature into the overall finished composition? How did your musical signature contribute to the overall finished composition?

5. How do you feel about the finished composition now? Have your ideas about changed since you met for the Composition and “Composium” Sessions with Mr. Crowe? Are you glad you helped to create it?

FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project Upcoming Events

Dear Fabulous Fourth Grader,

We are delighted to announce that David Crowe, FAME Composer-In-Residence, has completed the orchestration of the 2010-11 FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project composition and has entitled it, Whispers Of Illumination. The Fort Wayne Philharmonic and The Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company will present the Premiere Performance of Whispers Of Illumination during the FAME Northeast Festival, at the Philharmonic’s Philharmonic at FAME Celebration of Youth Concert, on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at 3:00 P.M., at the Grand Wayne Center, in Fort Wayne. The composition’s theme, aligned to FAME’s 2010-11 cultural focus, Creating and Dreaming in the Land of the Northern Lights and inspired by the silent grandeur of the Northern Lights, includes music and dance portrayals of Northern Lights “Whisperers” originating from Native American traditions.

As a FAMEous Student Composer, you and your parents will need to attend the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company Rehearsal on Saturday February 26, 1:00-2:00 P.M. (this Saturday!), at the Fort Wayne Ballet Center, 324 Penn Ave. (off N. Clinton Street), the project’s Final “Composium”, on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at 9:00 A.M., in Conference Center Room Jefferson C (near the Anthony Wayne Ballroom) in the Grand Wayne Center, and the Official Rehearsal, at 1:45 P.M., along with the composition’s Premiere Performance to be presented by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company at the Philharmonic at FAME Celebration of Youth Concert, on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at 3:00 P.M., at the Anthony Wayne Ballroom, at the Grand Wayne Center. Please identify yourselves as FAMEous Composers and parents at the FAME Festival entrance when attending FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project events to enter free ($3.00 donation admission charge for additional guests over 12 years old).

You, along with your parents, music teachers, and school principals will be special guests at the composition’s Premiere Performance at the Philharmonic at FAME Celebration of Youth Concert, on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at 3:00 P.M., at the Anthony Wayne Ballroom, at the Grand Wayne Center, where you will be formally recognized for their contribution to the project. You and your parents will be seated in a designated area in the front of the audience. Prior to the performance, you will receive a 2010-11 FAME/Fort Wayne Philharmonic Project certificate, a hard copy of your originally submitted Musical Signature Composition and audio CD, a page copy of the final composition’s score, and a photograph commemorating your participation in the project sessions. Dress up attire is appropriate (as in Sunday dress up clothing) for the concert. Please invite your music teacher and your school principal to be your special guest at the Philharmonic at FAME Celebration of Youth Concert, on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at 3:00 P.M., at the Anthony Wayne Ballroom, at the Grand Wayne Center, where they will be publicly recognized for their participation in the project (see attached an invitation form). Parents, sorry, but no video or audio taping of the concert is allowed by agreement with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.

If you cannot attend the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company Rehearsal, the Final “Composium” Session, the Official Rehearsal, or the Premiere Performance, or if you have any questions or Bloom, the project coordinator by phone at: (260) 338-1650 or via E-mail at: Wendy.Bloom@fwcs.k12.in.us.

Please plan to visit the 2010-11 FAME/Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project area at the information booth at the FAME Festival on March Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13 to get further information on the project, to turn in completed Project Portfolio assignments you might have completed, and to view photos of the October Composition and “Composium” Sessions.

You (and your parents) can also send their completed Project Portfolio assignments in the addressed envelope provided in October (you’ll need to put postage on the envelope) or post their Project Portfolio assignment reflections, questions, and comments in the appropriate posts below.

We look to seeing you at the upcoming project events!

Wendy Bloom

FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project Coordinator

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

The Fort Wayne Ballet Center is at 324 Penn Avenue (off N. Clinton Street).

The Grand Wayne Center is on Jefferson Blvd., across from the Embassy Centre, Fort. Wayne. Parking is available in the Hilton Garage (hourly parking), Harrison Square Garage ($2.00), and Anthis Career Center.

Anouncing The 2010-11 FAME FWPhilharmonic FWBallet Composition Project!

Again this year, several selected Northeast Indiana area Fourth Grade FAMEous Student Composers will engage in a once in a lifetime experience in music composition as they collaborate with FAME’s Composer-In-Residence, David Crowe to create a music composition to be performed by The Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company, at the Philharmonic at FAME, Celebration Of Youth Concert, at the FAME Northeast Festival, on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at 3:00 P.M., in the Anthony Wayne Ballroom, at the Grand Wayne Center, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

During music composition and “composium” sessions from 4:00-6:00 P.M., on October 4-6 and 12-14, 2010, at Haley Elementary School, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the FAMEous Fourth Grade Composers will first, compose, notate, and orchestrate their very own Musical Signature Compositions, then, creatively collaborate with Mr. Crowe about how their musical ideas will be orchestrated into a final project composition inspired by themes from FAME’s 2010-11 cultural focus, Creating and Dreaming in the Land of the Northern Lights.

Mr. Crowe will orchestrate the FAMEous Composers’ creative work into a symphonic piece themed in conjunction with FAME’s 2010-11 cultural emphasis, Creating And Dreaming in the Land of the Northern Lights and portraying the music and culture of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and the Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

FAME and the Phil’s ongoing collaboration with the Fort Wayne Ballet will continue this year, as once again, the composition’s premiere presentation will be enhanced with choreographed dance movements performed by the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company dancers. During the one of the “composium” sessions, Joellen Wojtowicz, director of the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company will hold a creative movement session with the FAMEous Composers to communicate with them about how their musical ideas for the composition will impact and inspire dance movements that the Youth Company ballet students will create and perform for the project. The FAMEous Composers will meet with Ms. Wojtowicz and student members of the ballet’s Youth Company on February 26, 2011 for a pre-premiere presentation of their movement ideas for the composition and will engage in a collaborative exchange of creative reflections about their visual, kinesthetic, and cultural meanings.

Mr. Crowe will score the finished composition for symphonic orchestra, then, on Saturday, Saturday, March 12, 2011, at 10:00 A.M., in the Anthony Wayne Ballroom, at the Grand Wayne Center, in Fort Wayne the FAMous Composers and their parents will attend the composition’s official rehearsal, where Mr. Crowe will conduct a final “composium” session (at 9:00 A.M.) with them to analyze their musical ideas in the finished composition. The project will culminate with a 1:45 P.M. mini-rehearsal and the composition’s premiere performance by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company, at the Philharmonic at FAME, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Celebration of Youth Concert, on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at 3:00 P.M., in the Anthony Wayne Ballroom, at the Grand Wayne Center, in Fort Wayne.

The FAMEous Composers will access a project portfolio and project blog site at: http://www.famearts.org/pgsub09/09compoBlog.html to complete various reflection assignments to help stimulate creative input and facilitate feedback for assessment during the music composition, rehearsal, and performance process.

You can access additional information at the FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Fort Wayne Ballet Composition Project web page at: http://www.famearts.org/pgmain/compo.html

Wendy Bloom
Project Coordinator

2010-11 Composition Project FAMEous Composers' Journal

Hi FAMEous Student Composers!

Welcome to the FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project Journal!

After each Composition and "Composium" session, the Fort Wayne Ballet Youth Company Rehearsal session the Official Rehearsal, and the Premiere Performance, write and post comments that reflect your creative experiences during the project. Your comments might include such things as:

new music terms and concepts that you have learned
your perceptions of being a professional composer
your reflections about your musical signature composition
your reflections about the musical composition you have helped to create
your impressions of the finished composition
your reflections about the dancer's creative movements
your reflections about the composition's official rehearsal and/or the premiere performance
your reflections about the FAME Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project in general

Don't forget to sign your comment with your first name only.

2010-11 Composition Project "Talk to the Composer" Forum

Post your reflections, questions, and comments to FAME Composer-In-Residence, Mr. David Crowe by adding comments below. Don't forget to sign your comment with your first name only. Mr. Crowe will respond back to you with a comment related to yours.

Offical Rehearsal Premiere Performance Critique

FAMEous Composer Name:

1. Did you enjoy the finished composition's oficial rehearsal and premiere performance? How did you feel at the premiere performance?

2. What things were different between the offical rehearsal and the premiere performance?

3. What was your favorite part of the official rehearsal? What was your favorite part of the premiere performance?

4. What was the worst part of each?

5. Critique the finished composition. What did it sound like? What did you like about it (describe using the best musical terms that you can)? What did you dislike about it? What creative music composition techniques did Mr. Crowe use to weave your Music Signature Composition into the overal finished composition? How did your Musical Signature Composition contribute to the overall finished composition?

6. How do you feel about the finished composition now? Have your ideas about it changed since you met for the composition and "composium" sessions with Mr. Crowe? Are you glad you helped create it?

FAMEous Student Composer Questionnaire #3

Hi FAMEous Student Composers!

Post comments below to answer the following questions to reflect on your learning experiences during the FAME/Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project. Remember to post your comment using your first name only.


1. Now that you have helped create a musical composition yourself, what would you say the hardest part of composing is?

2. What is the most fun part about composing?

3. How would you say your musical signature composition turned out?

4. What did you learn that you didn’t know about what professional composers do?

5. Do you think you will continue to create music in different ways?

6. What did you learn about the music of other cultures during the project?

7. Do you think that FAME and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic should bring in a composer-in-residence to work with student composers again?

8. If you had a friend who was going to work with a composer next year like you just did what would you tell him/her to expect?

9. What life skills did you use by participating in the project?

FAMEous Student Composer Self-Evaluation

Hi FAMEous Student Composers!

Look through your Project Portfolio and examine the papers and work you have done during the project. Think about how your perceptions and feelings about music have changed because of participating in the project. Post comments below to answer the following questions to reflect on your work during the FAME/Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project. Remember to post your comment using your first name only.

1. What part of the project are you most proud of?

2. What part of the project was different from anything you have ever done before?

3. Has this portfolio helped you learn more about music?

4. What would you like to do next to add to your FAMEous student composer portfolio?

5. How did you need to cooperate and compromise with the other FAMEous student composers during the composition
sessions?

6. Has the project helped you learn more about the life and work of a composer?

7. How much effort did you give to learn from the FAME Composer-Residence, Mr. David Crowe during the project?

8. What grade would you give yourself for the work you have done during the project?

FAMEous Student Composer Survey

Hi FAMEous Student Composers!

Post comments below to answer the following questions to reflect on your learning experiences during the FAME/Fort Wayne Philharmonic Composition Project. Remember to post your comment using your first name only.

1. Through your participation in the project did you learn about melody, rhythm and meter, harmony, phrasing, form, tone color, texture, expression, mood, style, orchestration?

2. Do you feel you actually experienced the process of creating a musical composition?

3. Could you identify your musical signature composition in the finished composition?

4. Was this your first musical composition?

5. Do you understand more about how composers create music?

6. Do you want to learn more about music composition?

7. Do you wish this project could last longer?

8. Did you learn more about musical careers in music by participating in this project?

9. How do you feel about the Fort Wayne Philharmonic performing the composition that you helped to create?

10. Do you think you will attend other Fort Wayne Philharmonic concerts in the future?

FAMEous Student Composer/Parent Conversation Form

To the parent: Please take a few minutes to review your child’s Project Portfolio. It contains his/her student work and reflections completed during the music composition sessions with FAME Composer-In-Residence, Mr. David Crowe. Please consider what your child learned about music, music composition, performance, and life in general from the project and then answer the questions below. Please enter your comment using your first names only.

1. Did your child enjoy the project?

2. What did your child share with you regarding the composition sessions with Mr. Crowe, the official rehearsal, the premiere performance, and his/her Project Portfolio assignments?

3. What surprises you most about the process and creative work your child experienced during the project?

4. What would you say are the main things that your child learned from participating in the project?

5. Has monitoring the composition sessions, Official Rehearsal, and Premiere Performance been worthwhile to you?

6. Have there been any changes in your child’s creative work habits and attitudes because
of participating in the project?

7. Do you have any additional comments, questions, or suggestions for improving the project?