Characteristics of the Classical Period

Students study classical music and learn about competitions as well as musical careers. In this music study lesson, students read about the Klein String Competition and the importance of competitions in shaping musical careers. Students...

Gustav Holst's The Planets provide young musicians an opportunity to examine how composers can create a suite: a collection of smaller pieces grouped to explore a single topic. After listening to "Jupiter," they examine "Mars" in detail,...

Sixth graders are introduced to the classical period in music history. After listening to examples, they identify and describe the characteristics of music during this time period and research the main composers. Using the internet,...

In this classical music instructional activity, 9th graders examine a graphic organizer that explains 7 characteristics of the music. They examine characteristics such as melody, timbre, texture, dynamics, and melody. There are no...

The Bard, Nikki Giovanni, Mos Def? “Sonnet 18,” Ego Tripping,” and “Black on Both Sides”? Sure! It’s the poetics. Class members compare the lyrics, rhythm, and rhyme in classic poetry to hip-hop in a richly detailed resource that...

Seventh graders explore the concept of expressiveness of music during the Classical Period by assessing how the following aspects affected it: timbre, dynamics, articulation, rhythm, melody, harmony, form, tempo, and texture. They...

Make your class musically and culturally literate. They'll listen to and discuss three types of music styles indicative of three different cultures. They'll identify characteristics and instruments used in western, traditional, and...

Students discuss style and characteristics of musical time periods as well as the definition of "pop culture." They compare and contrast modern-day popular icons to music icons throughout history.  This lesson requires a video, which is...

Your class can build strong, well-represented opinions about the music they hear. They listen to, and share thoughts about, a piece of classical music. Then they write a piece of music or a poem, and analyze their peers' work and their...

Upper graders explore the similarities, differences, and depth of pop music from the Romantic era and the 20th century. They listen to selections that exemplify the Baroque, Romantic, and 20th century periods, then create presentations...