ven count as a valid source. Some of that information is very good, but anyone can post on Wikipiedia, whether they have a clue or not. You can start there, but use the bibliography at the bottom of the Wikipiedia article to look at other sources. Tarleton also has excellent databases and library services available online. Go to the library page (http://www.tarleton.edu/library/) and click on "Databases." Oxford Music Online and IIMP are a great place to begin. Do some reading but DO NOT under any circumstances copy material from these sources unless you intend to use quotation marks. Even then, quotations should only be used sparingly.
Don't choose a single performer or group as your topic
Of course you can if you wish. The danger in this is that inevitably, students will start to list what albums they have recorded, what awards they have won, where they went on tour, what year they started using drugs. This information does not require any thinking. If you do choose a single artist or group, do so with a specific point in mind that does not require a chronological treatment of his/her/their career(s). My observation has also been that students will choose their favorite artist or group, about which they are incapable of being objective. It ends up sounding more like a commercial than an academic assignment.
Teach the teacher
Along the same lines as the point above, I am most impressed when I can grade a project that makes me think. The fact that Joe Rock Star's third album went triple platinum does not make me think. Find and gather all of the details you like about your topic, but your conclusion should be based upon your own critical thinking skills, taking that information, thinking about it, and drawing your own conclusions (not paraphrasing someone else's conclusion).
How to rip CDs into MP3s
These instructions use Windows Media Player, but other players use a similar process
Right-click along the top of the window.
Click the Rip Music tab.
Choose MP3 as the format.
Note: Do not save as .wav files as these