Music Fundamentals

A high-contrast black and white music classroom rules poster designed for easy printing and coloring. It features 12 essential rules grouped into musical categories with decorative icons and space for students to personalize.

A comprehensive music technology unit where middle and high school students master digital audio production and collaborate to produce a multi-grade showcase concert, bridging the gap between classroom creation and public performance.

A comprehensive unit for middle school band students to master the chromatic scale, focusing on note identification, enharmonics, and instrument-specific fingerings through a 'blueprint' technical aesthetic.

An 8-week intensive for band students to level up their music literacy, moving from basic note identification to fluently reading complex scores. Students will master ledger lines, key signatures, navigation markings, and ensemble sight-reading through a "Music Mission Control" theme.

A four-day music and movement unit for K-3 students focused on collaboration, rhythm, and creative choreography. Groups work together to select songs and build original dance routines.

A comprehensive 5-lesson sequence for 7th-grade students on the fundamentals of rhythm, exploring subdivision, syncopation, ostinatos, and polyrhythms, culminating in an original percussion ensemble composition.

A fun, interactive music sequence for Pre-K students focused on developing clear articulation and rhythmic precision in singing through games, mouth gymnastics, and nursery rhymes.

This sequence guides 4th-grade music students through the transition from initial practice to a polished concert performance. Students develop technical habits, practice strategies, critical listening skills, and stage etiquette to understand the discipline and artistry of instrumental performance.

A comprehensive sequence for 6th-grade students on rhythmic notation, meter, and mathematical subdivision of music. Students progress from basic note values to complex syncopation and original composition.

A foundational music unit for 3rd grade students focusing on rhythmic notation, beat vs. rhythm, note durations, and ensemble performance. Students move from kinesthetic feeling to reading and performing complex rhythmic patterns.

A foundational dance unit for Pre-K students exploring tempo, energy, and rhythm. Students learn to connect auditory cues to physical movement through play-based activities and character-driven exercises.

A foundational music sequence for Pre-K students focusing on internalizing the steady beat, understanding tempo, recognizing rests through silence, and distinguishing word rhythms from the beat. through movement and percussion play.

A 1st Grade performing arts sequence focused on ensemble skills, movement, and improvisational storytelling to develop collaboration and non-verbal communication.

A high-energy, multi-sensory lesson for 3rd and 4th graders focusing on the pentatonic scale through movement and tactile manipulatives. This lesson is specifically designed to support students with dyslexia and ADHD.

A comprehensive introduction to reading standard musical notation on the guitar, specifically targeting open strings and the first position notes for high school beginners.

A comprehensive guide to understanding and applying musical tempo, covering Italian terminology, BPM, and metronome markings.

A listening-focused lesson where students analyze the musical characteristics of various dance styles without knowing their movement-based origins, building terminology skills before connecting to George Farmer's 'Spirit Dance'.

An early childhood music and science integration lesson exploring 2/4 meter and ABA form through the whimsical lens of bees and flowers. Students move, listen, and create while learning about the rhythmic "polka" beat and the structure of music.

A 50-minute lesson exploring the connection between Jazz music, Black expressionism, and the Harlem Renaissance through music comparison and artist biopics. Students will analyze the differences between Black and White artists of the era to understand music as an act of defiance and cultural identity.

An in-depth exploration of Hans Zimmer's 'Time' from the Inception soundtrack, focusing on IB Music's Dramatic Impact and Music Technology Areas of Inquiry to build essay-writing skills.

A comprehensive exploration of John Coltrane's 'My Favorite Things' for IB Music, focusing on modal jazz, structural innovation, and the 'Exploring Music in Context' Area of Inquiry.

Second and third graders explore the history of American folk music on the Idaho Trail, focusing on the unique sounds of the banjo, fiddle, and washboard while practicing call-and-response.

Students explore the art of conducting, learning to lead an ensemble through 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures while controlling dynamics and tempo with physical gestures. This lesson emphasizes leadership, non-verbal communication, and collaborative music-making.

A comprehensive lesson on film music focusing on iconic composers, the difference between motifs and themes, and the impact of scores in movies like Jaws and Ghostbusters.

A delightful introduction to melody and pitch through the lens of Idaho's native birds. Students use scarves and vocal play to connect physical movement with melodic contour.