Project Plan (subject to change)



Project Overview

  1. Study & Design
    1. Demo and Q&A on a variety of instruments.
    2. Work alone or with a partner on a specific type of instrument.
    3. Analyze the requirements.
      1. What factors need to be considered in evaluating design?
        (sound quality, flexibility, durability, cost, visual appeal, other)
      2. What are the major parts?
      3. What materials could each part be made from?
      4. How could they be connected together?
      5. What key challenges must be considered & overcome?
    4. Evaluate alternative designs and design elements.
      1. What are the key decisions?
      2. What are reasonable alternatives for those decisions?
      3. What permutations of these alternatives are most (or least) practical?
    5. Plan field trip(s) to gather information or materials.
  2. Design Proposal
    1. Submit design proposal. (see Design Proposal Rubric and sample proposals below.
      1. Overview
      2. Requirements
      3. Design & Rationale
      4. Parts List (including cost estimates & availability)
      5. Tools List
      6. Planned Construction Process – itemized list of steps
  3. Organize
    1. Form teams of 2-4 around most interesting or promising proposals.
  4. Build
    1. Purchase or otherwise gather parts.
    2. Build the instrument.
  5. Evaluate
    1. Demonstrate & evaluate the instrument (see Instrument Evaluation Rubric below).
    2. Practice & perform with the instruments.
  6. Reflect
    1. Submit reflection report / letter of advice to future student(s). (see Reflection Report Rubric below).
      1. Lessons Learned: Team & Project Management
      2. Lessons Learned: Design & Construction
      3. Lessons Learned: Musical Instruments
      4. Suggestions for Future
    2. Submit confidential Process: Peer Evaluation.

Instrument Proposal - Examples

    Resources

    Rubrics

    Design Proposal Rubric

    Date:
    Reviewer:
    Presenter(s) & Project:
    Try to include 1 complimentary and 1 constructive comment for each item.

    CRITERIA RATING COMMENTS
    Overview: summarizes key ideas. /05
    Requirements: describes the desired goals of the instrument (possible criteria listed below) /05
    Design & Rationale: explains how the instrument will be built & work, and why key decisions were made. /05
    Parts List: lists all parts & alternatives, and expected cost and/or source. /10
    Tools List: lists any special tools required to construct the instrument. /05
    Construction Process: lists the planned steps required to construct the instrument. /10
    Mechanics & Format: proposal is neat, well organized, & clearly provides needed info. /10
    TOTAL /50

    Instrument Evaluation Rubric

    Date:
    Reviewer:
    Presenter(s) & Project:
    Note: Some criteria may be contradictory; do not attempt to maximize all ratings.

    CRITERIA RATING COMMENTS
    Sound Quality:does it sound good? /05 
    Flexibility: can it play different sounds in different ways? /05 
    Reliability: can it stand up to use & abuse? /05 
    Visual Appearance: does it look cool, impressive, or professional? /05 
    Overall Coolness & Creativity /10

    Reflection Report Rubric

    CRITERIA RATING COMMENTS
    Summarizes lessons learned about team & project management. /05 
    Summarizes lessons learned about design & construction. /05 
    Summarizes lessons learned about musical instruments. /03 
    Suggestions ways to alter or improve project in the future. /03 
    Mechanics & format: Work is neat, well organized, & clearly provides all required information. /04 
    TOTAL /20