San Francisco Symphony
The American Five - Pentatonic scales in early American melodies
Through vocal warm-ups and exercises, budding musicians will attempt to grasp the five pentatonic scales, commonly used in early American songs. They'll sing and work to identify the pitch, tone, melody, and scales being expressed in the...
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"The Star-Spangled Banner"
Students perform a song using correct posture, correct rhythms, and accurate pitches. They read musical notation and lyrics of various patriotic tunes, analyze the purpose and meaning of patriotic songs, discuss the social and cultural...
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Duke Ellington
Students read Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the life of the 20th century composer. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and...
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Committing Crime or Just Having Fun?
Students breakdown different types of youth crime/gangs. Students evaluate the power of peer pressure. Students identify and offer advice for dealing with peer pressure. Students encounter the theory of phenomena.
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Songwriting
Students watch the "The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A to Z" video and brainstorm what the songs may be about. They choose a theme for a song, write a short topic-related poem, and compose music for it.
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Mood in Music
Students portray the mood of a piece of music in a drawing. In this mood in music lesson, students discuss how music creates a mood. Students listen to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," "The Wreck of The Wreck of the Edmund...
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Rules and Laws
Students investigate the difference between rules and laws. In this justice system lesson plan, students discuss the presence of rules of their lives and compare them the "Code of the West."
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Rock the Rocky Road
Second graders keep a steady beat, pay attention to tempo and watch the conductor.
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Follow the Drinking Gourd
Young scholars listen to the song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" and repeat what they have heard. They discuss the significance of the story and how it relates to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. They observe a map of areas in...
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Louis Armstrong Hot Five
Students investigate the history and development of jazz by studying the Louis Armstrong Hot Five. They listen to music and define how Armstrong strengthened the concept of the solo as a part of jazz. They complete guided listening lessons.
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Learning to Play Together
Students listen to and discuss American music genres, specifically ragtime, bebop/bop, and swing, and experiment with improvisation on traditional tunes and rhythms.
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The Star Spangled Banner
Young scholars perform Star Spangled Banner, and analyze purpose and meaning of patriotic songs.
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Music History - The Romantic Period
High schoolers chose one topic about the music of the Romantic Period to write an essay about. They research this era, take notes on the important facts, and write an essay about the topic.
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VH1 Road to Fame: Harry Connick Jr.
Pupils examine musicians of the past and examine their music.
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Tony Bennett VH1 Storytellers for VH1 Save the Music
Students explore what messages lyrics give to their listeners. They use music from Tony Bennett and the Backstreet Boys.