Alma Mater Remix Project

Objective:

The student will synthesize a folk song into a pop song and initiate the diffusion of the popular song through social media in order to demonstrate the difference in how folk music and popular music diffuse and how folk culture and popular culture influence people’s perceptions of places and regions.

Introduction:

Upon the day of your graduation you will find printed in your program the Alma Mater, a folk song about your school, which describes the most important aspects of the school and the day-to-day life therein. With few exceptions, the day of your graduation is the day this song is diffused, in person, to you. You will transform this folk song into a Pop Music song in order to demonstrate how Popular Music is diffused. You will diffuse the song via digital and social media.

Definitions:

Folk Song: A song originating among the people of a country or area, passed by oral tradition from one singer or generation to the next, often existing in several versions, and marked generally by simple, modal melody and stanzaic, narrative verse.

Popular Music: Written by specific individuals for the purpose of being sold to a large number of people.

Alma Mater: Etymology: Latin, fostering mother; 1 : a school, college, or university which one has attended or from which one has graduated2 : the song or hymn of a school, college, or university

Directions:

  1. Examine the words of the song. The Alma Mater celebrates what is great about the school. Consider how the lyrics should change in order to celebrate the folk culture of Manvel High School.Consider the score. How might the music impact how the intended audience appreciates or dislikes the song?
  1. Revise the words and score to the extent you think is necessary in order to appeal to your target audience (ManvelHigh School Students).
  1. Record your remixed track as a video or an audio track and host in Youtube and e-mail the link to . Videos must be posted and link e-mailed by January 27th or they are considered late and the group will receive a 0 for the project.
  1. Make and execute a group plan to diffuse the remixed track to as many people as you can in 10 days. This does not have to be limited to social media. Think about other ways companies advertise their products. The group with the most hits/views wins. This will take place between January 27th and February 5th.Save As 2014 Van Sant Alma Mater Remix ______(one student’s last name in the group)

After February 5th:

  1. Write a detailed account of how each group member participated and what factors led to changing the song. This should be between 5 and 10 paragraphs with each paragraph labeled with the group member’s name.
  1. Answer the following questions in paragraph form. Should be between 3 and 4 paragraphs.
  1. What format did you choose to record your pop song in and why?
  2. How did remixing the Alma Mater make you feel about your school?
  1. Provide a detailed account of how you diffused your song and how successful or unsuccessful your group was at diffusing the song. This should include how many hits you received in 10 days.
  1. Describe how this project demonstrates the difference in the origin of Popular Music and Folk Music.
  1. Describe how this project demonstrates the diffusion of Popular Music and Folk Music.

Papers are Due February 14th, no exceptions!!

Manvel High School Alma Mater:

Here's to you, our Alma Mater, True to you we'll always be.

Standing for our Manvel Mavericks, One united family.

Wave the red, white, blue and silver, Show with pride your loyalty.

Though we part from one another, Mavericks always we will be.

Timeline:

Post Videos and Begin Diffusing ...... January 27

Present Videos in class ...... January 27 & 28

Stop Diffusing Videos ...... February 5

Process Memo 1, Remix Reflection, and Process Memo 2 Due ...... February 14

Project Rubric

Project Item / Description / Points
Process
Memo 1
(1-3, 5) / Provide a detailed account of how EACH GROUP MEMBER contributed to steps 1, 2, and 3 and what factors lead you to decide to make the changes.
-Each group member needs a paragraph explaining what they did
(5-10 paragraphs,12 point font, double space) / /35
Remix Reflection
(6) / Provide a printed copy of the song lyrics and answer the following questions:
  • What format did you choose to record your pop song in and why?
  • How did remixing the Alma Mater make you feel about your school?
(3-4 paragraphs,12 point font, double space) / /30
Process
Memo 2
(4, 7-9) / Provide a detailed account of how successful or unsuccessful your group was in diffusing the media.
-What did your group do to diffuse this new alma mater?
-How many hits did you get in the 10 day time frame?
-Do you think you were successful? Why or why not?
This could include information from data tracking websites such as Google Analytics
Describe how this process demonstrates the difference in the origin of Popular Music and Folk Music. (at least 1 paragraph)
Describe how this process demonstrates the diffusion of Popular Music and Folk Music.(at least 1 paragraph)
(3-5 paragraphs,12 point font, double space) / /35
Bonus Points / The Team with the most views between January 27th and February 5thgets 100 bonus points! / X

Manvel High School 2014