Composer Lesson Plans

Students compose short compositions using Doodle Pad.  In this Musical composition lesson, students a clef and note lines to prior knowledge of the treble clef and note lines to write short songs on the computer.  Students use Music Ace software (the Doodle Pad component) to complete their compositions.

Eighth graders utilize primary sources from the Eastern North Carolina Digital Library to research nineteenth century North Carolina composers. They conduct Internet research, complete a research worksheet, and create a rap about their selected composer.

Learners research a composer using both Internet and print media. They demonstrate how to read a piece of music. They conduct interviews of each other to determine material for a news broadcast which they videotape as they simulate being camera and production crews.

Fourth graders investigate musical notes. In this music lesson, 4th graders compose a short song while clapping the rhythm and singing the syllables using the appropriate notes or rests.

Fourth graders study Baroque composers. In this music instructional activity, rotate trough three stations, collecting information on particular Baroque composers. Worksheets, information cards, and procedure included.

Students choose two composers to research and complete a compare and contrast study of them. For this composer research lesson, students select two composers to research. Students use Internet sources, the library, and music class resources to complete their research and comparison.

Students explore the question : How does (how has) nature and the environment influence composers? They take a field trip to a nearby water way in order to collect data to create something after they were back in the classroom.

Students explore role of music in storytelling by watching and discussing effect music has on perception of scene from movie, and using Sibelius program to compose single excerpt of music, considering dynamics, timbre, and articulation, that relates to their own poem, story, or picture.

Students research a musician or composer of their choice and present their research through a written paper and free choice activity. This lesson can be done over the course of five to six classes with some homework. The paper correlates with the English Language Arts Curriculum as set forth by the NC Standards.

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 plan.