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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Variations of Pain

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners listen to the song :King of Pain" by the Police. They identify different instrumentation and different rhythmic accompaniments to the opening vocal phrase and explore the text in-depth, discussing the various poetic images of...
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Lesson Plan
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Improvising Music

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students watch "The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A to Z" and improvise melodic and rhythmic embellishments for the song "O What A Beautiful Morning" or "Rubber Duckie."
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Lesson Plan
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Using Numbers to Teach The Major Scale

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the numbers to the diatonic major scale using C note as a basis in this standards-based 45 minute lesson. Emphasis is placed on singing correct pitch, rhythmic accuracy, and proper breath control.
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Lesson Plan
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Rhythm Compositions

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders collaborate in small groups to create simple rhythmic patterns in different time signatures. Each group creates rhythms in a competitive "game" atmosphere and then constructs entire rhythmic groups for presentation to...
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Lesson Plan
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Overture to 'William Tell' by Gioacchino Rossini

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create an awareness of how music creates a setting in a story or legend. They identify the instrumentation, dynamics and tempo used to create various settings for a musical story. They perform rhythmic patterns from listening...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rondo with B-A-G

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars explore music notes. For this music lesson, students sing the song "Hot Cross Buns" and practice playing it on melody bells to find the letter and rhythm notation. They create a new phrase to the rhythm of this song. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ABBA - Lesson 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify and notate the musical device known as a "hook". They notate and perform rhythmic and melodic patterns in the ABBA song "Mamma Mia".
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Broccoli

For Teachers K - 6th
Students compose, notate, and evaluate their own rhythmic compositions using the song "Broccoli" for inspiration in this excellent elementary-level General Music lesson. Emphasis is placed upon four-measure patterns and the classic...
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Lesson Plan
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Sakura

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Learners create, notate, and perform the melody of and a rhythmic accompaniment to the traditional Japanese folk song, Sakura. This lesson plan requires a networked computer lab with headphones.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crackin' the Musical Code

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars decode musical notation and then synthesize and apply by notating their own musical composition. Students draw various rhythmic examples which are equal in time duration. They notate and count rhythmic patterns. Additional...
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Lesson Plan
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Salad Sisters

For Teachers K - 6th
Students practice and perform 8 and 16 beat rhythmic patterns in 4/4 using the song "Salad Sisters" as a basis in this elementary-level General Music lesson. An amazing lesson for teaching cooperative music composition techniques and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phytochemicals

For Teachers K - 6th
Students create movement, improvise rhythmic accompaniment, practice, and perform the song "Phytochemicals" in this excellent elementary-level General Music lesson. The lesson includes lesson challenges for more advanced students.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

It All Adds Up!

For Students 4th - 5th
In this music worksheet, students add up three columns with the totals for the whole, half and quarter notes. Students add up the values of each pair of notes and then calculate the column totals. No hints or examples are provided; prior...
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Lesson Plan
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Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music in America - Lesson 4

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners choose a theme for a song. They compose a poem, and write music to go along with their poem. The instructor plays the musical accompaniment, and the class votes on the most appropriate rhythmic pattern.
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Lesson Plan
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Incorporating Japanese Music into the Music Classroom

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experience the music and arts of Japan as they explore the language and culture of the country in this lesson. A variety of musical elements from the culture are demonstrated.
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Lesson Plan
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Music Around the World: United Nations Week

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discover the United Nations through the use of musical examples and performance. This two day instructional activity requires two forty-five minute sections and delivers information about different cultures around the world. ...
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Lesson Plan
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Original Rhythm Compositions for Poetry

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students create and perform original musical compositions using poetry as a basis for the creative process. This cross-curricular two-day lesson can be done in two 45 minute class periods. Students evaluate performances as part of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Movies That Rock": Moulin Rouge

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Upper graders explore musical film and the Bohemian lifestyle common in Europe during the turn of the century through the musical Moulin Rouge. After listening to (or viewing) songs from the movie, they discuss the Bohemian era and how...
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Lesson Plan
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Composing Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design, compose, and present short musical compositions for keyboard in this lesson plan meant for the high school choir class. This lesson can be adapted to any time frame, but the author suggests a considerable amount of time...
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Lesson Plan
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Creating Sight-Singing Originals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars create sight-singing examples for presentation in the high school choir class. Day One is used for review/introduction of the material. Day Two is used for student work time and Day Three is for presentation and evaluation.
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Lesson Plan
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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...
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Lesson Plan
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Watch Your Conductor Like a Hawk

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars focus their eyes on the conductor in music class. The teacher uses a music sheet to isolate the musical elements of tempo, balance, and blend.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alleluia

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Singers practice perfecting the song, Alleluia. They focus on singing techniques, style, phrasing, and working with syncopation. This lesson is a microteahing lesson and includes a warm up and vocal exercises. 
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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...