4 ‘Ridiculously Innovative’ Composer Studies Activities For Teens

Do you think that your teens will be bored, if you try to introduce them to composer studies? 

Well, it shouldn’t be boring if done the correct way. 

So what is the correct way, you may be wondering. 

And that is exactly what I am going to cover in this post, so get ready. 

I have also included worksheets so your teens can take their learning to the next level. 

Excited to hear what I have to suggest? 

Great. Let’s get started. 

Research Activities

The first step is to select one or more composers to study. 

So ask your teens to decide on the type of composers they would like to study. 

Would they like to research classical or baroque composers or composers from different era? 

Once they’ve nailed down the era, it is then time to select one or more composers to research. 

However, beware not to let this number get out of hand. 

The best is to select no more than three composers to study. 

Want ideas on composer study books? Then read my post Composer Biographies For All Ages. 

Listening Activities

Next, your teens can now create a playlist of songs by the composer and listen to it throughout the homeschool day. 

Thus enabling them to get familiar with the tunes and melodies, and be able to distinguish the music of one composer from another. 

You can have your tweens further expand on this activity by asking them to analyze the music. 

Don’t know how to analyze music? 

No problem, read my post – 5 ‘Absolutely Fun’ Music Analysis Ideas For Teens. 

Field Activities 

Now that your tweens have completed the research and listening activities, it is time to get them out and about doing some field activities that will further enhance their learning. 

Since I like to use examples when explaining things, I’m going to assume that one of the composers, your tweens selected for research was Vivaldi. 

So here are some activities in that vein. 

• Take them to the Italian cultural centre and learn about the history, geography, culture and other aspects relating to Vivaldi’s birth country.
• Take them to a museum and learn more about the history and the era when Vivaldi was alive.
• Take them to a library and look for books, periodicals, and resources that will teach your teens about Vivaldi, the Baroque era in Music, Vivaldi’s contemporaries (composers of his time) etc.
• Take them to an instrument store and attempt to find as many instruments used in Vivaldi’s compositions as you can. Then have your teens, touch, feel and play as many of those instruments as possible.
• Look out for opportunities to experience a live performance of Vivaldi’s compositions.

Hands On Activities

Ask your teens to use the worksheets that I have made available. 

The worksheets will help them further expand on their knowledge and retain what they have learned. 

You can also get your teens into composer study courses. 

This can get really costly, I know. So that is why I have provided a preview of one of my online units, so you teens can take their learning further. Click here to check it out. 

Other hands on activities include trying their hand at composing. 

Teens who can play by ear, should definitely attempt to improvise beats and melodies. This is a creative activity and therefore, there should not be any limitations. 

Don’t you think the suggestions made above will definitely pique your teen’s attention?

Why or why not?