Voice-Leading for Roots

Harmony is the focus of this band lesson. Upper graders play the Star Spangled Banner, while focusing on harmony, chords, and musical voice. This lesson includes several suggested cross-curricular activities.

Was Napoleon a tyrant or a hero? Answers could vary depending on the political point of view. Learners listen to Beethoven's Symphony #3 while considering Napoleon's undemocratic tyranny. They listen to the piece in five parts, each time...

"Friend, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears..." Those words begin one of the most persuasive speeches in literature. Explore the elements of persuasion in a series of lessons related to William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. In addition...

This article deals with another way of how to learn tunes efficiently, that is, by chords and notes.

Practice makes perfect, especially when playing a musical instrument. This lesson examines simple chordal harmony, melody, and playing with accompaniment. Learners listen to a series of songs that exemplify the concept then play a...

A drone is the simplest of all harmonies, you'll play or sing an example and your class will follow along. They listen to, and then play or sing drones. Two pieces containing drones are included for you to print, pass out, and play.

College-level instructor's notes on two key principles of design: similarity and proximity. Collage project how-tos also provided.

WebQuests can be fun and engaging ways to review concepts. This musical WebQuest includes thirty-five fill in the blank and ten short answer questions, which students complete through Internet use. Upper graders complete this exercise to...

What distinguishes the visual rhythm of a golf, rubber, beach, and bowling ball? Explore the two fundamental principles—timing and spacing—of animation, as well as a variety of other features to consider when discussing the overall...

A thorough description of chords, roots, and triads. Provides illustrated examples as well as audio clips to supplement this lesson.(You may need to download Flash Player to view this site.)