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HONORS SELF- DESIGNED PROPOSAL

Basic Information
Full Name: John M. Ball
Title of Project: Learning the Piano
Thematic Area(s): Creativity
Expected Start Date: December 20, 2015
Expected End Date: January 9, 2015

GUIDELINES
1. Proposal submission timeline: Proposals should be submitted at least one month prior to the expected
start date of the experience. International experiences require at least two months notice. Contact your
honors advisor immediately for any exceptions.
2. Proposal length: While the quality of the proposal is most important, strong proposals are typically 3-4
pages single-spaced.
3. Proposal format: Please maintain the proposal format (e.g. headers, layout)
4. Time commitment: Experiences should consist of at least 75-90 hours of preparation, execution, and
reflection. This is approximately equivalent to the commitment of honors seminars and pre-approved
experiences.

REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

All self-designed international travel experiences require two months notice and must be at least one week in
length. You will need to provide a detailed itinerary (dates, locations and activities). If participating in
independent travel (not with UC faculty, staff or student group), you must also fill out a Worldwide: Honors
Experience application via UC International.
Additionally, the Student Travel Policy restricts UC-sponsored travel to countries under a U.S. Department of
State Travel Warning. Those who wish to visit a country with a travel warning must seek an exemption through
UC International. Students traveling without a faculty or staff leader must individually request an exemption.
We cannot allow you to count this travel as an honors experience nor can we give you a grant without an
approved exemption.

1. Abstract
Briefly describe the experience. What makes this experience personally meaningful? What goals do you have for this
experience? What is your timeline for this experience?
*If you are proposing an international experience, provide an itinerary.

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**If you are developing this experience from an existing opportunity (class with a study tour, campus organization, co-op,
etc.) that is not already an honors seminar or pre-approved experience, how will you differentiate your experience from
what is already required of other students?
During the time specified I will attempt to gain a better knowledge of how to play the piano, as well as some basic music
theory. I have played a few instruments in the past, but I have never felt satisfied with my overall ability. I am very
interested in bettering my musical skill, and the piano is an instrument I have always wanted to learn. In the future, I
would like to use what I have learned in composition for future projects relating to my other passions.
Because doing something like taking private lessons would take up more time than Id be able to spend, the structure will
instead end up being a set number of hours per day, intended to start at two to three, and changing depending on what I
feel I need to focus on/for how long I need to hone these skills. This will continue over the course of about 20 days.
During this time, I will consult a music teacher to make sure that I am remaining on track for where I need to go, as a sort
of last resort if my own methods are failing. My goals are not very set in stone, but as long as I feel I have made
improvement in the areas in which I wish to do so, I will consider this to be a success.

Advisor Feedback
Must Include:

Required Revisions:

Effective:

Brief description of the experience

Personal connection to the experience
Identified goals for the experience
Timeline from start to finish
*Itinerary (international experiences only)
**Explanation of differentiated experience
from what is required of other students

2. Experience Advisor
Identify an experience advisor and provide their contact information. Explain why you chose this person and how you
plan to utilize your advisor for this experience.
Note: Advisor(s) should have knowledge or expertise in an area related to the experience. Honors advisors, undergraduate
students, and family members cannot be experience advisors.
Karen Maurer
(513) 259-5823
karen.maurer07@gmail.com
Mrs. Maurer and I have known each other for a few years now through a friend of mine. Though music is not her
profession, she has taught private piano lessons for several years now. I will not be taking lessons directly from her;
however I will be able to consult with her on a general plan and pacing for my individual work. We will be talking once at
least every three to four days to discuss where I am at and what to do next.

Advisor Feedback
Must Include:

Required Revisions:

Effective:

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Experience advisor name and contact
information
Description of why advisor was selected
Specific plans to engage with advisor

3. Connection to Learning Outcomes

List 3 learning outcomes from any thematic area(s). Provide specific activities you plan to engage in to help you make
progress towards the chosen learning outcomes. Describe how you expect each activity to help your progress. Include an
estimated time commitment for those activities.

Cretivity: Explore a new creative competency/medium or seek new ways to engage an existing competency/medium.

This could be considered both a new and old medium for me. I do have a background, albeit a very limited one, in music,
and I wish to increase my familiarity with it. I have chosen piano because it seemed a common instrument for people to
pick up when attempting to either start out or further advance their knowledge. In addition, this will be my first experience
with any sort of actual music theory. I will likely only get a basic understanding from such a short time, but I plan to
incorporate something in each lesson. I am not quite sure what I could say as far as specific activities.

Leadership: Identify personal strengths and areas of growth and evaluate opportunities to maximize skills and
abilities.

Because the lessons will be designed mainly by me as I go, I will of course need to be able to know where I am struggling
so that I can make these areas the focus of following lessons. This will be a skill that I will need to make use of in order to
make any sort of meaningful improvement for myself.

Research: Demonstrate the ability to locate, interpret, and critically evaluate primary sources appropriate to field.

This could be a bit of a stretch. However, because I will be gathering materials with which to practice largely by myself, I
will need to be able to evaluate things such as what skill level I am at vs. what I need, and how appropriate the subject I
am studying is to what I need to practice at the time. In turn, what I learn from what I gather will hopefully aid me in
gathering future materials, and so on.

Advisor Feedback
Must Include:

Required Revisions:

3 learning outcomes explicitly identified

from any thematic area(s)
Examples of activities and explanation of
how each will assist the progress towards
the chosen learning outcome
Estimated time commitment for each
activity

4. Academic Resources Connected to the Learning Outcomes

Effective:

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List 1-2 academic resources you plan to use to enhance your understanding of the learning outcomes. Explain how each
resource connects to your learning outcome(s) and helps you execute your experience. Please include the title and
author/creator for each resource.
Note: Academic resources are professional works that can be used to assist your understanding of the topic. Some
examples are books, documentaries, videos, or research journals.
Music Theory for Songwriters: Harmony (Julian Velard)
Music Theory for Songwriters: The Fundamentals (Julian Velard)
Because, in the future, I wish to use these skills for composition in other products, I felt these songwriting videos would
be appropriate. I do not own many book on the subject, though I plan to eventually gather some with the help of my
advisor, so I plan to start out with tutorial videos such as these. They are intended to help me to get a grasp on what I will
need to learn over time. These are only a few examples, and many of the ones I use will likely be similar enough that this
can speak for all of them. These specific videos were found through Lynda.com.

Advisor Feedback
Must Include:

Required Revisions:

Effective:

1-2 academic resources connected to the

learning outcomes
Title and author of each resource
Description of how resources will help
make progress towards learning outcomes
and execution of experience

5. On-going Reflection
The on-going reflection should help you process the experience and progress toward your chosen learning outcomes.
Describe your method for reflecting throughout the experience. Indicate specific reflection questions/topics you plan to
use to guide your reflective process.
Note: A variety of methods can be used for on-going reflection. Some examples are videos, drawings, blogs, songs, and
journals. Reflection topics to consider include your ideas/insights about the experience, connection to other areas of
involvement, and your progress towards the learning outcomes.
The plan right now is just to keep a journal of what I have accomplished each day. This will be useful for tracking my
progress, but it should also, in the end, give me an idea of how I grew over the course of my study. Examples of topics I
may cover:
-What did I decide to go over today?
-How do I feel about my progress thus far?
-Where do I feel I need improvement?
-Do I still enjoy my learning?
-If not, can I change my experience so it becomes fun again?
Of course, if any other ideas of significance come up in the process, I will make note of them as well.

Advisor Feedback

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Must Include:

Required Revisions:

Effective:

Method for ongoing reflection

Reflection questions/topics clearly
specified

6. Sharing Your Learning

Describe how you plan to actively share what youve taken away from this experience with a targeted audience. Explain
why you chose this specific audience.
Note: While social media can be an effective platform for sharing, only posting on your personal learning portfolio or
social media account(s) does not reach a targeted audience.
I have not yet been able to discuss this with her, but what I believe I will be able to do is make some sort of writing or
video to show to my advisors other students. It may work as an advertisement for her in a way, but it could also show
new students that may have second thoughts the benefits that can come from learning such a thing. If it manages to renew
someones interest in music, even if they end up on a different instrument altogether, it will have accomplished its goal.

Advisor Feedback
Must Include:

Required Revisions:

Effective:

At least one method to actively share takeaways/learning from the experience

A specific audience and why the audience
was selected

7. Budget (if applicable)

Provide an itemized budget and indicate your source for cost information.
*If you are engaged in an unpaid internship or research, please indicate the number of weeks and hours per week you
plan to participate.
I do not currently have any need for a budget, as I have access to the supplies I need already.

Advisor Feedback
Notes:
Detailed budget of expenditures with
sources to justify budget estimates
*Indicates the number of hours per week
and number of weeks of participation

Required Revisions:

Effective:

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THEMATIC AREA LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning Outcomes for the Community Engagement Thematic Area:
By engaging in this thematic area, you will make progress towards learning how to

Identify and differentiate multiple ways to contribute towards the development or

achievement of the communitys goals.
Develop a thorough understanding of the world view, beliefs, experiences, selfconsciousness, or history of community members through collaboration.
Articulate the purpose of service on a social issue or public policy and how service mutually
enhances individual growth and the common good.
Explain how education, advocacy, mobilization, or public policy can influence social issues
and transform communities.

Learning Outcomes for the Creativity Thematic Area:

By engaging in this thematic area, you will make progress towards learning how to

Discover new techniques to gain knowledge, consider options, make new connections, and
ask questions.
Explore a new creative competency/medium or seek new ways to engage an existing
competency/medium.
Understand and optimize the use of people, technology, physical resources or community in
a creative process.
Articulate the broader significance of a creative project and the value of its contributions.

Learning Outcomes for the Global Studies Thematic Area:

By engaging in this thematic area, you will make progress towards learning how to

Develop practical travel skills that promote safe, stimulating, and productive travel
throughout your life.
Summarize the interconnectedness of geography, history, cultural traits and world issues.
Articulate the interdependence of professional fields to address current and impending
global issues such as technology, the environment, human rights, or politics.
Demonstrate an understanding of cultural diversity by acknowledging the impact of their
own identity and the experience of social norms, customs, or beliefs that are different from
their own.
Demonstrate a sense of empathy, respect, and appreciation for others to build meaningful
cross-cultural collaborations toward mutual growth and prosperity.

Learning Outcomes for the Leadership Thematic Area:

By engaging in this thematic area, you will make progress towards learning how to

Formulate and manage a shared vision and develop goals towards its achievement.
Motivate and collaborate effectively with others towards completion of shared projects or
goals.
Develop strategies to identify and respond to challenges and obstacles.
Identify personal strengths and areas of growth and evaluate opportunities to maximize
skills and abilities.
Synthesize the current trends related to a specific issue or field and evaluate how thoughtleaders are currently addressing them.

Learning Outcomes for the Research Thematic Area:

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By engaging in this thematic area, you will make progress towards learning how to

Demonstrate the ability to locate, interpret, and critically evaluate primary sources
appropriate to field.
Identify and apply appropriate methods to collect and organize data for analysis.
Analyze and interpret the meaning of results.
Produce dissemination appropriate to the field in order to share the results or impact of the
research.
Articulate the broader significance of the research project and its relationship to other
fields, research and ideas.