Middle School Lesson 1
StartBeat, Melodic Direction (high-middle-low), The Staff, ScaleThemes(s):
Transportation, Friendship
Extra Details:
Themes
Rhythm
Tone Set
Grades
Holidays
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson you will:
- Play Poison Rhythm
- Discuss How tos and What ifs
- Play the Circle Name Game
- Teach Music Room Rules
- Complete Staff Lesson 1
- Optional: Complete the Staff Lesson 1 Worksheets
- Teach “Barges”
- Option 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Barges
- Option 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Barges”
- Teach “Friends Forever”
- Learn the choreography for “Friends Forever”
- Do the choreography and sing “Friends Forever”
- Optional: Teach the bucket drumming arrangement for “Friends Forever”
- Compose your own rhythm pattern
- Write your rhythm on a piece of paper then play it with the track
- Play Note Toss
Extensions:
Musicplay is a menu. The teacher is not expected to teach every song or activity. Choose the songs and activities from the list that will best fit your schedule and the needs of your students.
Objectives
- I can listen to and reflect on a song.
- I can number and name the lines and spaces of the staff.
- I can compose and perform rhythms.
Teaching Procedures
Play Poison Rhythm
Copy LinkTeach Music Room Rules
Copy Link1. Have the students read the rhythms.
2. Read the words in rhythm.
3. divide the class into 2 groups - one reads the rules, the other does the ostinato
4. Give the students a suggested body percussion to go with the first line.
For example: stomp stomp stomp stomp
pat pat pat pat pat pat pat
5. Read the second line and have students each create a body percussion pattern for it. Keep a beat on a woodblock or a drum and have them do the line four times, working out a body percussion. Divide the class in half and have one have perform and the other half of the class watch. The watchers should choose several performances that they like. As a class choose one body percussion pattern to use for the second line. Switch roles for the third and fourth lines.
6. Choose instruments to play the ostinato.
7. Decide on a form for performance
For example:
- drum and say the ostinato 2x as an intro
- ostinato continues while chant is performed 2x
- end with the ostinato 2x dim.
Teach “Barges”
Copy LinkReflect on the lyrics and answer these questions:
1. Who do you think might have written this song?
2. What do you think the songwriter was thinking about?
3. Describe the music (tempo, dynamics, harmony, articulation, timbre, major/minor).
4. How does the song make you feel?
Teach “Friends Forever”
Copy LinkLearn the choreography for “Friends Forever”
Copy LinkDo the choreography and sing “Friends Forever”
Copy LinkOptional: Teach the bucket drumming arrangement for “Friends Forever”
Copy LinkCompose your own rhythm pattern
Copy LinkChoose your level. We suggest starting with level 2.
Compose your own rhythm pattern.
Play it back. Do you like it?
If not, change it.
Write your rhythm on a piece of paper then play it with the track
Copy LinkWrite your rhythm that you composed on a piece of paper.
Decide how to play it.
You could use body percussion: clap, pat, snap, stamp.
-or-
You could clap 1st time, pat 2nd time, snap 3rd time, stamp 4th time, continuing until the music ends.
-or-
Find things at home to use for drumsticks and drum it.