Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Elements of Music—How do Composers Plan?
The introduction to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and the finale of his Symphony No. 4 provide young musicians with an opportunity to investigate the music elements composers employ to develop the themes they want to create. They compare the...
Curated OER
Teaching the Musical Concept of Tempo
Intended for an Autism class, this lesson teaches self-expression through music while facilitating an understanding of the concept of tempo. Pupils engage in a call-and-response song, clap, discuss, and sing keeping feelings and tempo...
Curated OER
Circuit Training Surprise
Students move around the gym to music, and when the music stops, they sit on a balloon. Inside each balloon are directions for another physical activity students should do.
Curated OER
Musical Imagery
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.
Curated OER
Instruments In Action
Students read and demonstrate eight measures of four beats. In this music reading instructional activity, students read and demonstrate through movement their mastery of eight measures of four beats. Students also classify instruments.
Curated OER
3-5: Rhythm Beginnings
Students explore tempo. For this rhythm beginnings lesson, students differentiate between steady and unsteady beats. Students clap a variety of tempo and then move to the tempo of a song.
San Francisco Symphony
Quilt Making and Copland's Rodeo
Kids make quilts as they learn about pioneer life and the concept of tempo. The Aaron Copland piece, Rodeo is used to convey rhythm and tempo in music. As the children discuss tempo and rhythm, they also discuss what life was like for...
Curated OER
Music: Individual and Group Practice
Third graders, in groups and individually, perform various musical pieces on their instruments. After demonstrating how to play steady beats, they also play counter melodies to songs such as "Peace Like a River." While some students...
Curated OER
Hey Good Looking, What You Got Cooking?
First graders perform a song and skit to illustrate how music can be used to communicate movement As part of the Thanksgiving Day program, 1st graders perform a song and skit that illustrates how music can be used to communicate movement.
Curated OER
Concerto for Recorder, Oboe and Bassoon by Antonio Vivaldi
Middle schoolers study the life and music of Antonio Vivaldi. They analyze and practice playing the various parts of Concerto a la Vivaldi on recorders. They record themselves and compare their performance to that of the same...