Curated OER
Parallel Harmonies
What is a parallel harmony? You and your class can explore musical terminology through song. You define what a parallel harmony is, the class identifies parallel harmony in music they hear, and then you all sing some examples together....
Curated OER
Independent Harmonies
Independent harmonies, homophonic music, intervals, and melody are all part of music theory and practice. Prepare your budding musicians for the big time with these activities focused on playing with accompaniment. This instructional...
Curated OER
Consonance and Dissonance Activities
Hone those musical ears to identify consonance and dissonance in music being played live or on a recording. Learners will work through four activities where they will listen to consonant and dissonant notes being played first by the...
SoundTree
When The Saints Go Marching In: A Lesson for Middle School Keyboard Lab Students
After listening to a variety of interpretations of "When the Saints Go Marching In," partners compose and then perform their own renditions of this classic before joining a full-class jam session.
Curated OER
Jewish Folk Song: Ya Ba Bom
Singing is a wonderful way to express an idea of any kind. This lesson is written expressly for use in directing a high school chorus. They work on using four-part harmony, expression, and melodic intervals while singing a Jewish folk...
Classics for Kids
Introduction to Music: Symphony
Expose young elementary students to the works of one of the greatest musical composers, Ludwig van Beethoven. Using three progressive lesson plans to complete the unit, class members are able to distinguish low and high sounds, count the...
Curated OER
Focus on Harmony
Harmony is the focus of this band lesson. Upper graders play the Star Spangled Banner, while focusing on harmony, chords, and musical voice. This lesson includes several suggested cross-curricular activities.
Can Teach
Pass the Melody
Get a jam session started in your elementary music class! Learners engage in melody transitions by singing a familiar song and passing on the tune to the next person.
Curated OER
VH1 Classic Presents: Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Lesson 3
Students in a guitar class perform the Beatles song, Eleonor Rigby and study it's melodic and harmonic structures. They discover the process of arranging the song for a 4-part guitar ensemble.
Curated OER
Down By the Riverside
Young scholars discuss the musical genre of spirituals and its influence on our musical history. They perform various songs, and read the student score for, Down By the Riverside.
Curated OER
Viennese Music Clock
Pupils explore the music concepts of ryhthm, melody, form, and harmony in a three-lesson unit. They listen to the Viennese Music Clock and demonstrate moving to the beat, create improvised melodies, and play percussion accompaniment.
Curated OER
Music: Zim, Zim, and La Tarara
Students establish the correct way to sing and play melodies in Spanish. In this music lesson plan, students review the correct pronunciation of the song "Zim, Zim" and participate in singing it correctly.
Curated OER
Fifth Grade Music: Lesson 3 - Unison and Harmony
Fifth graders sing the syllables and pitches of the C major scale, and sing Do - Re - Mi in two-part harmony. They discuss the definition for round and canon, and contrast gamelan music of the Spice Islands with reggae from Jamaica.
Curated OER
Fifth Grade Music: An Ancient Round, Vocal Music in the Renaissance
Fifth graders sing the melody for Sumer Is Icumen In, in unison and as a two-part round. They listen to a madrigal from Renaissance Italy and a lute song from Elizabethan England.
K12 Reader
Figurative Language: Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Bells”
Bells, bells, bells abound in a worksheet designed for Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem "The Bells." Middle schoolers are asked to identify the various poetic devices Poe employs.
Curated OER
Music - O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Students practice singing with correct posture. They sight read music and sing in choral harmony. Students identify the characteristics of a melody and examine the style of Southern Baptist hymns.
Curated OER
Pitch, Intonation, Harmonic Theory
Students listen to pitches and determine if they are in tune, flat or sharp. Using Aurelia computer software and playing as a band, students practice pitch theory, and play two-octave major scales. They practice and discuss how to tune...
Ceramic Arts Daily
Making Sounds with Clay
Here is a great way to incorporate art, history, and music. Learners will make airduct instruments, such as recorders, flutes, and whistles out of clay. The ceramic instruments can be quite ornate and even used to make music. The...
Curated OER
Composing Music on Computers
Students compose pandiatonic works using computers as a compositional tool. Following the anticipatory set, they work individually to create their own pieces. The instructional activity concludes with a "concert" of the created student...
Curated OER
On with the Show!
Students perform in musical ensembles using the district adjudication sheet to assess their performance. They practice for the district music festival.
Curated OER
Nosferatu Expression and Diminished Chords
Students explore how to construct and play diminished triads and half and whole diminished chords on the keyboard. They create appropriate sounds to accompany sections of the movie "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horrors." Students discuss the...
Curated OER
Music in West Africa
Students listen to music at a designated website. They demonstrate how to make musical sounds with symbols and create their own musical composition. From activities on the website, students begin to train their ear to hear pitches and...
Curated OER
Amazing Fibonacci
Students integrate the patterns of Fibonacci into music. For this geometry lesson, students apply the concepts of recursion, pattern and Phi or Golden Ratio to composing and playing music on various instruments. They lesson is co-taught...