Intrinsic Motivation to Learn

Intrinsic Motivation to Learn
According to principle number 8 – Intrinsic motivation to learn, “The learner's creativity, higher order thinking, and natural curiosity all contribute to motivation to learn. Intrinsic motivation is stimulated by tasks of optimal novelty and difficulty, relevant to personal interests, and providing for personal choice and control.” AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. http://www.apa.org/ed/lcp2/lcp14.html

My goal here is to stimulate the students’ creativity, higher order thinking, and natural curiosity. This will be done through sample-base musical composition.

Sample-Based Music and Sonar Home Studio
Home Studio is a piece of software that allows a user to create and edit music with a near infinite amount of creative flexibility. Home Studio can be used to create what is called “sample-based” music. Sample-based music is composed of many small sound clips or samples which are combined and manipulated to produce a piece of music. For the most part, sample based musicians do not actually create the samples themselves but rather select prerecorded samples from a library. A typical library would have thousands of sound samples providing the composer with countless sonic possibilities for their compositions. Home Studio is the software used to combine and manipulate the samples into a piece of music.

Sample-based music is a very easy medium in which to compose. To compose compelling music a student does not need an intimate knowledge of music notation nor be proficient on a musical instrument. Sample based music is very visual. It allows the composer to place sounds in a piece of music much like building blocks. The texture and form of the music can be clearly seen on the computer screen as well as be heard. This is an excellent method for introducing composition to students who possess little knowledge of the elements of music.

All students enrolled in Experiencing Music 2200 are provided with Sonar Home Studio and a library of sound samples. Throughout the course the students will use Home Studio as a lab in which they can experiment with the music they are studying. Students will be encouraged to use the sample library to compose their own music as well as music related to the genres being studied. Due to the high audio quality of the samples the students’ compositions will be of the same audio quality as the music they are listening to on their radios. The students will experience a rich audio experience in even the simplest of composition.

Intrinsic Motivation to Learn
As stated above, sample-based music is a very easy medium in which to compose. This will give the students an expectation that they can “succeed.” As well, because this medium required little knowledge of the elements of music nor an ability to play music it is appropriate to the students’ current abilities. Sample-based music gives the students the tools and skills to easily create music in styles which they listen to on a daily basis. This fact makes these endeavors interesting and personally relevant to the students.

Implementation Plan
Over the next two weeks I will do the following
- Introduce the students to Sonar Home Studio and the concept of sample-based music creation.
- Design activities which will encourage them to become familiar with the functionality of the software and the ease of its use.
- Provide them with opportunities to create music which is interesting and relevant to them.
- Create an environment where creativity is celebrated and not judged.
- Create a means for the students to exchange ideas both cognitive and musical.
- Provide encouragement and assistance for the students as they create.