Musical Vocabulary Links

While music lyrics are often used to teach literary elements, the richness of this resource comes from the wealth of exercises, activities, and support materials provided in the packet.  Although designed for gifted learners, the...

Some emotions are indescribable, but sometimes you have to try! After brainstorming adjectives that describe emotions, pupils watch a quick film, at first with no sound. Partners share their adjectives and come up with descriptions for...

The school band or orchestra analyzes their own performance after exploring musical terminology. They listen to a classical piece and describe it using only words. They look up musical terminology and then use those words to compare and...

Hand it out and let them read all about the music of the Renaissance. The class will discscover basic terminology that developed during the time period, musical style, and how music was linked to the church and everyday life. 

Would you rather listen to music at a pianissimo level or a fortissimo level? A music theory lesson introduces elementary learners to the basics of musical dynamics with engaging and hands-on activities.

Music, culture, social studies, and plant growth all in one! Kids explore the various type of traditional African instruments that are made out of gourds. They then grow their own gourds and use them to create a wide variety of African...

Young musicians explore the rhythms and sounds of Balinese gamelan music, then create their own. They listen to several examples of gamelan music, then use their instruments to mimic the rhythms they hear. After a warm up and practice,...

Part of learning to play music is learning to read music. Young musicians practice the techniques needed to become strong sight readers. They learn to keep their eyes ahead, scan the sheet music, and play each piece thoughtfully. 

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...

Allegro, largo, vivo, and andante, it's tempo time! As the metronome ticks off a variety of tempos, budding musicians work to identify them. They then create and perform a musical, singing, or movement piece which demonstrates each type...