Discuss with them the importance of all performers playing together with good balance, blend, and so on, and the significance of music having repetition and contrast for unity and variety, and so on. Divide the class in half and assign one of the groups to be employees of a classical radio station and the other group to be employees of a jazz radio station. Then assign half of each group to be salespeople and the other half to be program directors of disc jockeys. Explain the roles of people in these positions at radio stations. Program directors determine the type of music that is aired as well as the mix of news, weather, sports, talk, and other topics.
Disc jockeys are on-air personalities who often select, organize, and announce the music aired.
Have each group of sales people compile a list of six songs to present to their program director group for air play with a list of reasons for including those pieces. Then have the disc jockeys make a cassette recording of their set, including an appropriate introduction for each song, giving the performer, the type of composition, and some background, if appropriate. Play the two sets for the entire class and have students decide whether the sets played for each of the stations meet the criteria they originally devised. Have students decide what music they will perform in a concert based on criteria they have established for the performance. Then have them write the program and program notes for the concert.