Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Swing Your Partner!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This was written for ESOL learners, but could work for any elementary class. Learners read about the American dance style known as Square Dancing. They explore its use in literature, write a friendly letter about it, and then use their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Retrograde Composition

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars complete their own retrograde composition. They finish playing a set of notes started by their teacher. They use computer software to complete their song.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

H1 Classic Presents: Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Lesson 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students are introduced to the various songwriting techniques of Paul McCartney. They explore and compare the basic melodic, harmonic, and lyrical tendencies of the different types of pop music.
Lesson Plan
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Meet Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov!

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students listen to music and review instruments of the orchestra. They explore musical terms, solo, texture and theme of the music and discuss other features of the music. Students research and discuss the life of Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov.
Lesson Plan
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Groovy Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars compose their own eight measure melody in a D scale. Using a software program, they enter the half, quarter and eighth notes in the order they prefer. To end the lesson, they play their music for the class and critique...
Lesson Plan
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200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars define the term "exoticism" and identify musical elements used by 19th and 20th century composers and modern pop icons to convey exoticism.
Lesson Plan
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Duke Ellington: Great American Musician and Composer

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students delve into the life and music of Duke Ellington as a major American musician and composer. The elements that made the sound of his orchestra unique and the talents of his band members are explored in this lesson.
Lesson Plan
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Composing To A Video Clip

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students assess pre-recorded music and sound effects to create an accompaniment to a video clip to express the mood and actions occurring in the video. They incorporate with today's lesson the program GarageBand to assist them with their...
Lesson Plan
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And You Don't Stop - 30 Years of Hip-Hop

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners discuss the role of the rapper in Hip Hop music and how the rapper promoted their group's DJ. They compose a short rap about a fellow student highlighting that student's accomplishments and good traits.
Lesson Plan
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SENSORY ELEMENTS

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students describe the sensory elements of musical selections (i.e., tempos, dynamics, and articulations). They write an essay evaluating Saint-Saens' effectiveness in using sensory elements in both selections. They describe the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Save the Music Concert: Part 2 Composition

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine why music is considered to be the "universal language" and study the expressive quality of a musical performance. They compose a melody using a computer and software which they perform on an instrument.
Lesson Plan
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VH1 AIDS: A Pop Culture History Lesson 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the relationship between music and culture, and how music conveys thoughts and emotions. They write their own song.
Lesson Plan
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Rhythm In Motion

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders work independently and with a partner to demonstrate proficiency of steady beat, meter and basic note values while creating written rhythmic patterns for class performance. State and National Standards are addressed.
Lesson Plan
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Learning through The Duke

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the important contributions made by Duke Ellington to the field of jazz, as well as some of the factors that led to his involvement in the field. As they explore the language of the 1920's, connections will be drawn...
Unit Plan
San Francisco Symphony

The 20% of Beethoven

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Compare Beethoven's fifth symphony to latin music and disco. Learners will listen to and discuss the elements found in the first part of Beethoven's composition. They'll then look for the same elements in Tito Puente and Bee Gees songs....
Lesson Plan
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Jazz In America

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students explore the Jazz Era in America not only by answering questions but listening to music as well.
Lesson Plan
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Manipulating Sound

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use music software to create and refine a musical composition. They use music software to create a sequence of musical phrases. Students use music software to create and refine a musical composition and adapt it in the light...
Lesson Plan
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Tuning the World One Note at a Time

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate music around the world and work with a photographer to understand elements of photography. In this photography lesson, students visit a dance hall and interview the dancers. Students gather ideas and create a...
Lesson Plan
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Winter Wonderland

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore various pieces of holiday music. They select a piece of music, record an introduction that describes the style, and record a section of the music.
Lesson Plan
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Lyubov Mayzus

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a activity that is concerned with the understanding of musical forms. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They listen to recordings of different types of music and use critical listening skills to...
Lesson Plan
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Garage Band

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify a pop rock music form that includes a verse, a chorus, and a bridge in ABABCBB form. They demonstrate basic skills using the "Garage Band" application. Students crate a piece of music using the garage band...
Lesson Plan
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Red, White, and Blue Notes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the history of major American music genres. Then, through mock radio shows, students examine the distinguishing features of each genre and how each has changed throughout the years.
Lesson Plan
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Behind the Movie Chicago - Lesson 1

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners are introduced to the genre of the musical film. They become aware of the music and dance trends of the 1920s. They identify musical motive as a basis for unity in composition.
Lesson Plan
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And You Don't Stop - 30 Years of Hip-Hop, Episode 2, Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discuss Public Enemy's lyrics and compare and contrast them with songs popular during the Civil Rights Movement. They write their own rap song that expresses feelings of oppression or freedom from oppression.