Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orchestra: Focus on Rhythm and Arranging

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High school orchestra is a great place to play music, like The Star Spangled Banner. Upper graders create new rhythms to the old song and perform them with the class. They rehearse their updated versions of the song using their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Name That Tune

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Integrating technology and music can be a snap with lessons like this one! Kids in a junior high band class took to the Internet to download and practice playing their instrument with a computer generated back up band. They practice...
Lesson Plan
North Carolina Standard Curriculum

Rhythm Counting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Understanding time signatures and rhythm counting are two very important parts of playing an instrument well. Here are three basic lessons rolled into one that prompt upper graders to play their instruments with care. They'll practice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning AB Form: Music

For Teachers 3rd
Third grade musicians play Orff instruments while they learn about the AB Form. First they learn part A of a song, then they listen to when the song changes. After they understand the concept of AB form, they learn to play part B. Note:...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music Conducting: Classroom Activities

For Teachers K - 8th
Turn the class into a percussive orchestra and let the kids take over as conductor. You'll explain a few ins and outs of what a conductor does. Then you hand over the baton and let your budding Beethovens conduct each other as they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My (musical) Valentine

For Teachers K
Get out those bells, sand blocks, and sticks! Your kindergarteners use their singing voices to ask and answer friendly questions while keeping rhythm. They take turns in a group and in pairs singing questions and answers while keeping...
Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

The Lion and More

For Teachers 5th
Melody, rhythm, tempo, and dynamics; get out those recorders it's time to play music! Your class will work on playing two lion-themed pieces that exemplify two different styles, folk and waltz. They'll discuss the elements of music and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kindergarten Music Time

For Teachers K
Little ones are led through a series of rhythmic songs and chants while they march, clap, and use their tummies as percussive instruments. They work on singing in pitch, chunking, and keeping a steady beat. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Instruments In Action

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students read and demonstrate eight measures of four beats. In this music reading lesson, students read and demonstrate through movement their mastery of eight measures of four beats. Students also classify instruments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning Refrain and Verse

For Teachers 1st
Instruct your young musicians on the terms verse and refrain. They listen to two songs, and point out the verse and refrain as they occur. Students then play drums when they hear the verse and the refrain. Note: Song lyrics, sheet music,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the rhythm instruments as part of a rhythm band to accompany the well-known poem, "Five Little Pumpkins." They study instrument names, playing techniques, and playing at the appropriate time. They study how to perform a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grade 2: Music/Valentine's Day

For Teachers 2nd
Play and sing a Valentine's song with your second graders. They'll follow along allow as you demonstrate how to sing and keep a steady beat on non-pitched percussive instruments. While the music activity has a Valentine theme, that theme...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fats Waller, Handful of Keys

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Playing piano is great fun and playing jazz is even better. Kids watch a video of Fats Waller playing the song, "Handful of Keys," they then use either a piano key print out or Orff instruments to practice his signature stride piano...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tango

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the music of Buenos Aires as they hear and then dance the Tango. They practice basic Tango rhythm, learn to sing the song, "Any Turkey can Tango," then practice a few Tango-riffic dance steps with a partner....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rhythm Counting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform various rhythms and melodies in unison on their individual instruments. Assessment is performed on the last day of the lesson with each student playing individually for the class. This lesson meets national standards...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Musical Rhythms

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students listen to music and bounce a tennis ball to the eat. Students close their eyes and listen to the rhythm. They switch hands on beats where they hear a new percussion sound. Students compose their own pieces using Oranga's band...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Rhythm and Pitch Reading

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners practice correct rhythms and pitches during this short instructional activity for the middle school instrumental class. Objectives vary depending on music used for the instructional activity. Students assessed through group...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rhythm

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders listen to a song from a compact disc called "Talking Spirits" and discuss whether they have ever heard music like that before and who might be playing the instruments and the music. They try to identify the instruments...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mexican Culture “La Raspa”

For Teachers 1st
Here are three lessons that work together to engage learners in a cultural and musical exploration. In lesson one the listen to the Mexican folk song, "La Raspa" and discuss cultural context. In lesson two they dance along to both "La...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kotekan: A Cooperative Music Activity

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young musicians explore the rhythms and sounds of Balinese gamelan music, then create their own. They listen to several examples of gamelan music, then use their instruments to mimic the rhythms they hear. After a warm up and practice,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LET'S PLAY

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore music, patterns, notes, and instrumentation. They practice the proper technique at a keyboard and perform a simple three note pattern.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Can Play It

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students listen to a piece of music on the bells, recorder, and rhythm sticks, comparing and contrasting the different instruments. They play the song, Row Row Row Your Boat, rotating groups to play the bells, recorder, and rhythm sticks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elementary Lesson Plan - Instruments

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify two different types of mallets, discuss how percussion instruments are played, recognize that there are many types of mallets that produce different sounds on percussion instruments, and work in small groups to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rhythmic Travel Around the World

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore and play rhythm sticks while listening to songs from around the world. They locate the countries of origin on a map, and tap their rhythm sticks to the beat of the music.