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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Chordal Harmony

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Practice makes perfect, especially when playing a musical instrument. This lesson examines simple chordal harmony, melody, and playing with accompaniment. Learners listen to a series of songs that exemplify the concept then play a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Independent Harmonies

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Independent harmonies, homophonic music, intervals, and melody are all part of music theory and practice. Prepare your budding musicians for the big time with these activities focused on playing with accompaniment. This instructional...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jewish Folk Song: Ya Ba Bom

For Teachers 9th
Singing is a wonderful way to express an idea of any kind. This instructional activity is written expressly for use in directing a high school chorus. They work on using four-part harmony, expression, and melodic intervals while singing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rhythm of Life - Episode 3 - Harmony

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students complete a unit on musical harmony. They listen to examples of three part harmonies, watch a video, complete a data sheet, prepare a report on the history of harmony, and complete a multimedia report on music for the movies.
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Activity
Canada's National Arts Center

Vivaldi and The Four Seasons

For Students 4th - 6th
Did you know that Vivaldi’s orchestra was largely made up of girls from an orphanage? Fun facts like this fill a 34-page teacher's kit designed to accompany a cross-curricular study of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Medieval Music (c500 - 1450)

For Students 8th
For this Medieval music worksheet, 8th graders read about the instruments and parts of the music, including harmony, melody, and unison. They answer 7 homework questions based on the reading.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hello Girls

For Teachers 9th
Ninth grade girls get together to sing the song Hello Girls. They warm up with common voice exercises then work to maintain melody, harmony, pitch and tone. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Wing and a Prayer

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders improvise missing harmony accompaniment for a soloist performing "The Star Spangled Banner." Groups select several familiar melodies that they can produce while individual students take turns improvising a new harmony part.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just an Old Fashioned Love Song

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders use three-part harmony to sing a song.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion and Peace

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore peacemaking efforts. In this religion and ethics lesson, students examine the religious, social, and political values that accompany peacemaking efforts on a global scale. Students create and implement their own...
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Worksheet
Catherine Schmidt-Jones

Two Traditional Korean Songs

For Students 3rd - 5th
"Arirang," the most popular Koeran folk song, and "Doraji" are featured in a resource that includes suggestions for how to incorporate these hauntingly beautiful songs into your curriculum.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Viennese Music Clock

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the music concepts of ryhthm, melody, form, and harmony in a three-lesson unit. They listen to the Viennese Music Clock and demonstrate moving to the beat, create improvised melodies, and play percussion accompaniment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

B is for Banana

For Teachers K - 6th
Learners practice and perform the song "B is for Banana" using their knowledge of basic rhythms in 4/4 and student-created rhythm accompaniment based on speech. This excellent lesson is provided by the MENC (National Association for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pavane pour une Infante Defunte

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students describe the music in terms related to basic elements such as melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, timbre, form, style, etc. They identify timbres heard in "Pavane" by movement and respond by movement to timbre.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nosferatu Expression and Diminished Chords

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how to construct and play diminished triads and half and whole diminished chords on the keyboard. They create appropriate sounds to accompany sections of the movie "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horrors." Students discuss the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Musical Imagery

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students experience musical imagery. They link this musical concept to literary imagery to gain an understanding of the use of imagery in both genres. After listening to a varriety of sounds, students will compose and perform a melody.
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Lesson Plan
SoundTree

When The Saints Go Marching In: A Lesson for Middle School Keyboard Lab Students

For Teachers 6th - 8th
After listening to a variety of interpretations of "When the Saints Go Marching In," partners compose and then perform their own renditions of this classic before joining a full-class jam session.
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Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Peace Quilt

For Teachers 5th
Learners explore color, shape, line, balance, radial symmetry, unity, repetition, and pattern as they make a peace quilt inspired by those made by Hawaiian women in the 1800s. After learning a bit about the history or peace quilts, the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GCSE Notes 2000: Classical Music

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Classical period music is defined by its characteristics and distinctive sound. A set of notes assists upper graders in recalling and analyzing music from the classical period based on musical terminology. An example analysis of Eine...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Round and Dance Music

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders recognize a round in singing groups and apply to choreography movements.  In this rounds lesson, 3rd graders memorize movements with songs at specific places.  Students perform a three part round.
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Lesson Plan
Asian Art Museum

Experience Chanoyu: A Japanese Tea Gathering

For Teachers 6th - 12th
As part of the study of Japanese cultural history, introduce your class members to Chanoyu, the Way of Tea. After a discussion of the history and key elements of Chanoyu, class groups perform the ceremony.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

'Cross the Wide Missouri

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students perform a song, identify melodies, and discuss the history of folk songs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Down By the Riverside

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discuss the musical genre of spirituals and its influence on our musical history. They perform various songs, and read the student score for, Down By the Riverside.
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Lesson Plan
VH1

Lesson 3: Behind the Movie Chicago

For Teachers 7th - 12th
In small groups and then as a class, young musicians compare and contrast two pieces from the musical film Chicago. They pair up to look at the elements that make each piece similar and define the elements or arrangements that make them...