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Boy Bands: Hot Again
Kids read a New York Times article on the allure of boy bands, and then answer several questions via Blog post. They consider why boy bands are popular, why they are so expensive for record labels, and how they are similar to bands of...
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Catch the Beat
Use this rhythm and pattern activity during transition times or on it own. Start by introducing a rhythm with 2, 3, or 4 beats; use your feet, hands, or entire body to demonstrate. Once learners have figured out the pattern, they join...
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.
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Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music in America - Louis Armstrong
Students listen to selections of New Orleans street band music. They explore the culture of New Orleans in the 1920's, and perform a closer examination of Armstrong's music.
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Beat the Beat!
Students develop a sense of pulse by listening to music with strong beats. In this music beats lesson plan, students listen to marching band music examples. Students then practice showing the beat while listening to the song.
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Music in Our Schools Month
Music is an Essential Part of Our Students' Educational Experience
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Let the Music Play
Students create auditory presentations on festivals and celebrations around the world. They begin by reading about how the New Orleans high school marching bands have overcome many obstacles to keep their music traditions alive. Then...
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Giants of American Music
In this music learning exercise, students match a description with the following composers: George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, John Philip Sousa, Leonard Bernstein. Students also reflect on why they are called Giants of American Music.
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The Role of Music in Time of War
In this music and war worksheet, 9th graders read about the instruments and the types of music the are popular during times of war. They read about the Big Band era that took place during World War II before answering 5 associated...
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Music And War
In this music activity, students read 4 paragraphs of information about music and wars. Students learn the 4 main roles of music in wartime. Students answer 5 questions.
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Marching Band
Students make simple muscial instruments. In this music lesson, students use buttons in small containers, bells on string, wax paper over a comb, or pan and spoon and then use these instruments to perform in a marching band.
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Banding Together
Students explore the effect that a particular culture can have on popular music. They develop their own music groups, each representing a style of music and a historical culture and perform their group's concert for the class.
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Jazz and Math: Rhythmic Innovations
Students watch a segment of the PBS Ken Burns JAZZ documentary about Buddy Bolden creating the "Big Four." They compare and contrast the rhythms of marches and jazz based on the examples in the film, and explore notation, subdivision of...
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Movin', Groovin', and Gettin' Strong
Children can do almost anything to music, so get them up and moving, working out and strengthening some major muscle groups. Using exercise bands provides some resistance, which makes the muscles work a little harder. With this lesson...
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Metallic Sounds
Students differentiate between metallic and non-metallic sounds. In this music lesson, students listen to the audio clip of "March" and march in time with the music. Students identify the metallic sounds in the music piece. Students...
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Strike Up the Band
Students create song lyrics celebrating the history of labor unions serving the entertainment industry, then create posters illustrating the importance of each union to the industry they represent.
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Marching Band Cadence
Students compose an original cadence. They compose a short segment (2 measures) of a cadence on staff paper. Papers are collected and entered into Sibelius program. They compose original cadences using the Sibelius program and...
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Timbre: Identifying the Tone Color of the Saxophone
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.
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Band On Line
Students work together to email other students in bands across the country. Using a list of questions, they correspond with their pen pals that are the same age as them. They also write high school and college bands to gather more...
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Exploring the Brass Family
Third graders explore the four basic instruments of the Brass Family in the four lessons of this unit. The French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba are inspected as students develope a familiarity with their sight and sounds.
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Boombox Classroom: Ensembles
In this music learning exercise, students identify types of ensembles. They order duet, quartet, solo, and trio by the number of performers in each. Students complete a word search, looking for ensemble related words.
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Winter Wonderland
Students explore various pieces of holiday music. They select a piece of music, record an introduction that describes the style, and record a section of the music.
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Eurovision Song Row
Students read an article about the controversy surrounding the Serbian and Montenegrin entries in the Eurovision music contest of 2006. They examine target vocabulary from the article and take a comprehension quiz.
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Memorable Singer 1929-1949
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...