1. How can we use the elements of music to compose an original song?
What is a Folk Song?
How can we use the elements of music to compose an original song?

2. What defines a folk song?
Short – only 4 to 6 lines in each verse or chorus
Simple – lyrics, rhythms, and melody are easy to learn and remember
Factual – lyrics are based on facts (events, cultural ideals, or lessons)
Fun – some fictional or nonsense terms, or exaggeration of facts, are added to make the music fun to sing

3. Folk song project
Decide on a topic – Choose something that you learned recently (from any class) that you thought was interesting.
Write your lyrics – Use facts from your topic, and write 4 to 6 lines of lyrics. Remember to include some exaggeration or fiction to your lyrics. Choose your rhyme pattern to fit your style.
Add a melody– Make up a tune to your song, or put it to the tune of a song you already know.

4. Grading Your project will be graded on these 4 categories
Lyrics (20 points) – Lyrics are based on fact with some fiction or exaggeration added for fun. Lyrics follow a specific rhyme pattern and beat (all lines should be the same length)
Rhythm (20 points) – Rhythms are easy to follow and track. Rhythms fit with the rhyme pattern of the lyrics (all lines have an equal number of beats)
Melody (10 points) – The tune is easy to remember and follows a set pattern.