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2 Black Keys, 3 Black Keys

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the black keys on the piano and basic music theory techniques using the Internet as a guide. Websites visited include www.PianoNanny.com and musictheory.net.
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Introduction to Ludwig van Beethoven

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
"Ode to la Tortilla" and "Ode to Joy"? Sure! Use Gary Soto's poem to introduce learners to the ode format. After examining the descriptive words Soto uses, class members study a poster of Ludwig van Beethoven, suggest words that describe...
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Tony Bennett VH1 Storytellers for VH1 Save the Music

For Teachers K - 5th
Students listen to different songs and write in their journals about the song.
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Native American Friendship Dance

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars demonstrate the proper steps in sequence to the Native American Friendship Dance.
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VH1 Storytellers for Save the Music Starring Billy Joel

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars use a Billy Joel song to write a scenerio about it.
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VH1 All Access Spotlight: Josh Groban

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the lyrics to You Raise Me Up, sung by Josh Groban, and identify the structure and markings in the song that show expressive qualities. They explore how composers use musical concepts to show meaning and mood in a piece...
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Did Disco Change America?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners examine the economics of a time period along with the music.
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Circuit Training Surprise

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students move around the gym to music, and when the music stops, they sit on a balloon. Inside each balloon are directions for another physical activity students should do.
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Shapes in Art, Shapes in Body

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore body movement.  In this shapes and dance lesson, students demonstrate body movements and positions that resemble simple shapes.  Students read I Spy Shapes in Art by Lucy Micklethwait and choose shapes from the...
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"Hello" Game

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students listen as the teacher sings the first phrase of the "Hello" song (included with the lesson plan). They respond by singing the second phrase. They learn to pronounce the hello equivalent in other languages. The teacher sings the...
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Rehearsal and Sightreading Techniques

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders prepare the two pieces "American Celebration" and "Patriotic Bits and Pieces" for an upcoming performance. This lesson plan is a forty-five minute lesson plan geared towards a middle school advanced band (8th Grade). ...
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Body Percussion: Hambone

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore body percussion. They practice playing quarter notes and eighth notes separately, then quarter and eighth notes at the same time by different groups. They practice this exercise at different tempos.
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The Prairie Dog That Met the President

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
StudentS name and discuss facts of the characters in "The Prairie Dog that Met the President". They create a 4 to 8 beat chant about a character from the opera, play a percussion instrument with an assigned rhythm and identify a melody...
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Composing Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design, compose, and present short musical compositions for keyboard in this lesson plan meant for the high school choir class. This lesson can be adapted to any time frame, but the author suggests a considerable amount of time...
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Rhythm Counting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers perform various rhythms and melodies in unison on their individual instruments. Assessment is performed on the last day of the lesson with each student playing individually for the class. This lesson meets national...
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"Nutcracker"

For Teachers 5th
Students recognize the timbre of a celesta by listening to music that contains the celesta. They listen to music from Tchaikovsky's "Danse de la Fee-Dragee" (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairies), track #14 and describe how the music...
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Madrigal Dinners

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students investigate Medieval times. In this world history lesson, students discuss what a madrigal dinner was and what madrigals were. Students role play being a part of a madrigal dinner with pretend food and real life music they used...
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Hey Good Looking, What You Got Cooking?

For Teachers 1st
First graders perform a song and skit to illustrate how music can be used to communicate movement As part of the Thanksgiving Day program, 1st graders perform a song and skit that illustrates how music can be used to communicate movement.
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Teaching Rhythm and Pitch Reading

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students practice correct rhythms and pitches during this short lesson for the middle school instrumental class. Objectives vary depending on music used for the lesson. Students assessed through group playing in class.
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Shoes And Singin

For Teachers K
Students analyze rhythmic patterns (beat versus no beat), sing an echo song on Solfege syllables, improvise melodies, and express music through creative movement. This lesson is written to meet State and National Standards for the Arts.
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Singing In Canon

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders analyze and discuss the four seasons and how each can be represented in song form. This instructional activity is intended for the third grade Music classroom but could be adapted for any elementary grade. State and...
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Accelerando - Israel, Peru, Russia

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students complete activities to learn about the music concept of accelerando. In this accelerando lesson, students sing songs and learn tempo. Students use the Yiddish circle dance 'Bim Bam' to complete a circle dance. Students also...
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Line Dance is a Pattern!

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders apply the pattern of a line dance to different music tempos.
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Locomotion, Time And Shapes

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students practice the concepts of time and rhythm using drum beats. They also create body shapes using verbal cues. The shapes made include stretched, curled, angular, or twisted. The rhythm of beats is increased or decreased to explore...