+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz in America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students learn vocabulary associated with the Swing Era. They also listen to music from the time period.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Charlie Parker Played Be Bop (Raschka)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Get in touch with Charlie Parker's jazz beats as learners explore new words in Chris Raschka's onomatopoeic book Charlie Parker Played Be Bop. Scholars are acquainted with some musical terminology before they hear these terms in the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance: Personal Soundtracks

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create a musical autobiography. In this fine arts lesson, students explore the emotions that music can express by listening to and discussing a variety of music. Students construct a personal timeline and a collection of music...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summertime - Miles Davis

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine the George Gershwin opera, "Porgy and Bess." The rhythms to some of the musical pieces are mimicked and identified as belonging to the music of jazz.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of Rock and Roll: Part 6 - My Generation - Lesson 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify musical characteristics of baroque, jazz, and psychedelic music. They arrange traditional music into the style of baroque, jazz, and psychedelic music.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ambassador Satch, Superb Entertainer: 1950-1971

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers participated in guided listening lessons of Louis Armstrong's jazz music while interpreting his lyrics. They study his life as an entertainer and goodwill ambassador for the US.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Satchmo's Blues

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Young scholars work cooperatively to create a jazz composition using the computer program GarageBand and incorporating the musical stylings of musician Louis Armstrong. Internet access is required for this lesson plan.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Listen Up! Swinging with some Big Band Music

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read about the music and life of Glenn Miller. They listen to Miller's "Jeep Jockey Jump" and analyze the piece for instrumentation, formal structure and stylistic characteristics.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inter-City Jazz Songbook Project

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Young scholars choose a city with famous musical highlights and create a tourist brochure.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Musical Impressions

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils listen to two examples of bluegrass music and try to identify the instruments that they hear and the subtle differences between the two songs. They describe their impressions of the selections, then conclude by comparing and...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Romare Bearden

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners identify artwork by Romare Bearden and to explain his techniques. They look for cut and pasted papers and images, paint, ink and pencil designs, shapes and spaces and the rhythms therein. They listen to music by looking at...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eckstine, Stayhorn, and the Dorseys: Masters of Swing

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore the history of swing music. In this music history lesson, students research the Dorsey Brothers, Billy Eckstine, and William Strayhorn to learn about swing music. Students define swing, develop a timeline of events in...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wyclef Jean for VH1 Storytellers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use recordings of Wyclef Jean's music to study and explore different styles and techniques.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Music

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate a variety of sites to gather relevant information for a presentation about African American musical forms in this general Music lesson for middle school and high school. Resource links are provided to aid instruction.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rhythm and Art: Gesture Drawing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students make connection between music and art. In this integrated arts instructional activity, students complete gesture drawing activities as they listen to Cuban, flamenco, classical, jazz, and contemporary music. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Dirty Brass Band

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate the music played by New Orleans brass bands in funerals. The two distinct moods, sad and happy, utilized in the songs are identified and applied to other music selections.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Memorable Singer 1929-1949

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine how Louis Armstrong's fame spread from the African American community to the whole world. They examine how his singing style influenced both popular and jazz musicians by participating in guided listening of his musical...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Sacred to Secular: Exploration of Vocal Styles/Crossing between styles - Lesson 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify some of Aretha Franklin's vocal qualities and techniques. They have a discussion of styles of music they heard on the video, including gospel, jazz, pop, rhythm and blues, and opera.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everybody's Boppin', Lambert, Hendricks and Ross

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students probe the musical style of scat singing with imitation instruments. While listening to the musical pieces, they identify when one singer finishes and another begins. The singing groups' styles are contrasted in this lesson.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars study the life and music of the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They practice listening for the downbeat of a musical selection. They participate in a physical exercise where they march around in a circle and clap to the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Timbre: Identifying the Tone Color of the Saxophone

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students explore the concept of timbre. In this timbre lesson, students experience timbres produced by saxophones in contemporary music. Students explore the science behind the music.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

William Walton [1902-1983] LAM 102 Belshazzar's Feast (1931)

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the musical composition of William Walton. For this listening exercise lesson, students answer the questions that are based upon the influences of the composition of the piece of music, Belshazzar's Feast.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 Fan Club Dave Matthews Band

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study how the music of Dave Matthews Band is based on jazz, blues, bluegrass, rock and roll, and rap.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Painting Music

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students convey the concept that music expresses different moods. Using paint, students draw various artistic elements that convey the mood of a piece of music they hear in class. They complete an analysis of classical paintings and how...