Fundamental notation, instrumental proficiency, and vocal techniques across various genres. Connects historical analysis with original composition and creative performance skills.
A high-energy, creative workshop for 4th-grade ESL students to explore cultural music and dance through storytelling and instrument making. Designed to be fun and engaging after state testing, focusing on oral language and creative expression.
The final premiere of the music video at the All-town Music Tech Showcase, followed by a live performance and student reflection on the collaborative process.
The technical phase involving on-location recordings at elementary and middle schools, followed by high school student-led mixing and video production.
Introduction to the 'Playing for Change' concept, exploring the themes of the chosen protest song, and laying the groundwork for the K-12 collaboration.
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 musical unit focusing on tropical-themed call and response songs for grades 3-5, designed for spring concert preparation and vocal skill development.
An introduction to the vibrant musical traditions of West Africa, focusing on iconic percussion and melodic instruments like the djembe, kora, and talking drum.
Synthesize learning through the study of global fusion and the creation of a collaborative world music project.
Discover the unique melodic structures, scales, and storytelling traditions of Asian and Middle Eastern music.
Explore the foundational role of percussion and polyrhythms in West African and Latin American musical traditions.
A comprehensive 60-minute introductory music lesson exploring rhythm, melody, dynamics, and tempo through the lens of a 'Sound Lab'. Students act as scientists to experiment with musical elements.
A block-building music lesson where students 'craft' rhythms, 'survive' rapid direction changes, and explore Orff percussion through a pixelated world theme. Includes singing, dancing, and body percussion activities.
A music lesson where students compose and perform a new verse for 'Going Green Song' about environmental issues in their own school.
Students explore how the brain uses patterns and expectations to process music, learning about the 'tonic' and 'resolution' through a rhythmic composition game.
A music and literacy lesson where elementary students learn about musical resolution by connecting it to narrative arcs in stories. Students will use the concept of the 'tonic' note to create soundscapes for specific story prompts.
Students explore the heart of Jazz: improvisation. They learn about the pentatonic scale as a safe space for creativity and practice collaborative musical invention, reflecting on how Jazz mirrors democratic values.
Students follow the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to Northern cities, analyzing how this geographic shift transformed music from Delta Blues to Big Band Jazz. They trace the life and influence of Louis Armstrong.
Students explore the rhythmic innovation of Ragtime, focusing on syncopation and the influence of Scott Joplin. They practice 'ragging' the beat through movement and coordination activities.
Students investigate the 12-bar blues form and the AAB lyrical pattern. They analyze how music serves as a vehicle for emotional expression and storytelling, culminating in writing their own blues stanzas.
In this culminating activity, students synthesize their knowledge to propose a 'new' genre or instrument for the future. They explore how emerging technology will continue to shape the art of music.
Students explore the science and art of sound by constructing DIY instruments from recycled materials. The lesson emphasizes individual creative design followed by a collaborative team performance.
An introductory lesson on the anatomy and mechanics of the violin, including labeling parts and understanding their functions.
A series of rhythm reading flashcards and a teacher's guide covering basic to advanced rhythmic patterns. Activities progress from quarter notes and rests to complex sixteenth notes and triplets across multiple time signatures.
A high-energy, low-pressure 15-minute music lesson designed to engage disengaged students and build vocal confidence through rhythm and stealth games. This lesson moves from non-verbal rhythmic games to collective vocalizing to bypass the fear of singing.
Students explore the concept of tempo and rhythm through a catchy song about the solar system, using rhythm sticks to match shifting speeds.
A cumulative review where students synthesize their knowledge to build a complete timeline of music history. They categorize genres by their technological and musical characteristics.
Students deconstruct modern pop songs to find the 'Verse-Chorus' pattern. They use a 'Song Sandwich' analogy to understand how most modern music is structured.
An introduction to the digital age of music, where students explore synthesizers and drum machines from the 1980s. They compare electronic sounds with traditional acoustic instruments.
Learners dive into the 1970s Funk era, focusing on the bass guitar and the importance of 'The One.' They practice rhythmic grounding through movement and listening exercises.
Students explore the birth of Rock 'n' Roll, focusing on the electric guitar and the shift from acoustic to amplified sound. They learn to identify the backbeat and understand how electricity changed the energy of music.
In this final lesson, small groups present on one of the regions studied, demonstrating a characteristic rhythm or explaining an instrument. The class synthesizes their learning by finding commonalities between the different cultures.
Students examine how discarded oil drums were transformed into the Steel Pan in Trinidad and Tobago, focusing on Calypso rhythms and resourcefulness.
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.
Students explore the concept of musical harmony through interactive singing exercises, listening tasks, and collaborative blending activities. They will learn to distinguish between melody and harmony and participate in multi-part vocal performances.
Applying knowledge of intervals and scales to analyze simple, familiar melodies like 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'.
Translating short musical patterns heard by ear into basic notation or symbols.
Students organize notes into the C Major scale 'ladder' using hands-on instruments like boomwhackers.
Introduction to solfege syllables and Curwen hand signs to represent pitch relationships.
Students learn to distinguish between notes that move by step, skip, or leap through visual and aural examples.
Students synthesize all skills in a simulated audition. They introduce themselves, perform, and exit professionally while receiving peer feedback.
Students learn the reciprocal energy between performer and audience, covering concert etiquette, bowing, and professional interaction.
A culminating project where students apply their knowledge to perform a familiar tune in multiple distinct musical styles.
Learning about syncopation and the playful world of jazz through basic scat singing and rhythmic improvisation.
Addressing the psychology of performance, students learn coping strategies for 'butterflies' like deep breathing and positive visualization.
A fun, creative lesson for 4th-grade ESL students focusing on the intersection of music, dance, and storytelling. Designed for a substitute teacher to implement after state testing, it includes a presentation, a storyboard activity, and a hands-on mask-making craft.
A comprehensive lesson on music tempo covering Italian terminology, metronome markings, and practical application to musical scores. Students will learn to identify and apply various speeds to music.
A lesson exploring the speed of music through Italian tempo markings, the use of metronomes, and understanding Beats Per Minute (BPM).
An introductory lesson on reading treble clef notes using the FACE and 'Every Good Boy Does Fine' mnemonics, redesigned with a purple treasure hunt theme.
Guides students through researching and presenting a biography of a famous composer.
Explores the concept of dynamics through vocabulary and visual aids.
Introduces the treble clef and provides practice for identifying notes on the staff.
Focuses on the fundamentals of rhythm for 2nd graders and incorporates active movement activities suitable for Kindergarteners.
A comprehensive set of rhythm practice materials focusing on notes up to sixteenths and rests up to eighths, designed to build clapping proficiency through 20 unique patterns.
Students compare acoustic and electric sounds, exploring how amplification birthed Rock 'n' Roll through pioneers like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley.
Students investigate Andean wind instruments (pan flutes), connecting the geography of high mountains to instrument materials and the physics of pitch.
Students are introduced to the metallic percussion orchestras of Indonesia, focusing on cyclic time and simulated structures using classroom instruments.
Students deconstruct modern pop songs to identify Verse-Chorus-Bridge structures and the concept of a 'hook'. They analyze the 'math' behind hit songs and why they are memorable.
