An engaging music comparative listening lesson exploring Ludwig van Beethoven's classic 'Für Elise' alongside Jon Batiste's energetic modern reimagining. Students explore steady beat, tempo, dynamics, instruments, and how a famous melody can be remixed with movement and fun.
Music Listening Standards Rubric (National Arts Standard MU:Re7.2)
3 - Master Detective ⭐⭐⭐
Correctly identifies all instruments and beats; circles whisper vs. loud dynamics; writes a thoughtful reason for their favorite song.
2 - On The Trail ⭐⭐
Identifies most instruments and beat differences; needs minor guidance with dynamics or matching clues.
1 - Junior Detective ⭐
Participated in active listening and movement; completed portions of the worksheet with teacher assistance.
Für Elise Answer Key Page 2 of 2 • Teacher Guide Companion
Teacher Guide • Page 2
Kinesthetic Movement Routines
Beethoven Movement: "The Swan & The Storm"
• Section A (Gentle): Students float two fingers across the desk like a graceful swan or tiptoeing mouse.
• Section B (Playful): Rapid fluttering butterfly fingers.
• Section C (Storm): Dramatic air piano with stomping feet on the low bass notes!
Batiste Movement: "The Hip-Hop Conductor"
• Intro (Mystery): Freeze and listen for the tiptoe melody.
• The Drop: Jump once when the 808 bass drum hits, then nod heads to the 4/4 groove.
• Vocal Call & Response: When Jon shouts "Yeah!", students whisper-echo "Yeah!"
Check-for-Understanding Prompts
• "If Beethoven visited our music room today, what do you think his face would look like when he heard Jon Batiste's interpretation?" (Surprised, smiling, dancing!).
• "Why do you think both musicians chose the piano as their main voice?" (It can play melodies and chords at the same time; both started playing as kids!).
• "What makes a song stay famous for 200 years?" (A catchy melody that sticks in your head!).
Meeting All Learners
Emerging Writers
Allow students to dictate their sentence to a teacher or peer buddy, or draw an emoji next to their response.
Multilingual Learners
Use thumbs-up/down gestures for soft vs. loud; model the movement routines before playing the tracks.
Early Finishers
Challenge them to add full color and details to their bonus drawing of their dream interpretation instrument!
Next Class Extension Idea: "Classroom Boomwhacker Interpretation"
Have students play the E and D# notes on Boomwhackers or resonator bells while a student taps a simple drum pad beat!
Für Elise Teacher Guide Page 2 of 2 • Ready for Classroom Fun!
