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Lesson Plan
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California Department of Education

Creating a Therapeutic Soundscape: Ambient Improvisations and Planned Catharsis (CTE)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How is music a form of therapy? Scholars explore the topic using the fourth and final instructional activity from the Changing One's Tune: A Music Therapy STEM series. Learners explore the relationship between music and the mind and...
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Unit Plan
Honors College at Scholar Commons

From Start to Strike: A Lesson Plan for the Whole Theatre Experience

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Introduce young thespians to all aspects of the theater. A syllabus for a one-semester drama course provides lessons that take learners from the history of drama to the many facets of play production.
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Unit Plan
Johnny Mercer Foundation

Project-Based Songwriting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Project-based learning in a music theory class? Take note. Young songwriters compose, record, copyright, and promote their original songs. They even design their own CD cover.
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Activity
Leading Learner

Using Music to Tell a Story or Describe a Scene

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Young composers demonstrate their understanding of the stylistic features of descriptive music, including pitch, tempo, dynamics, rhythm, and timbre, by developing a melody and countermelody for a main character in a story. As part of...
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Worksheet
K5 Learning

The Music Concert

For Students 2nd Standards
Second graders read an informational text passage on music concerts and then answer questions based on what they read.
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Lesson Plan
SoundTree

Notating Friedrich von Schiller’s Theme to “Ode to Joy.”

For Teachers 6th - 12th
To demonstrate their skills with traditional and computer-assisted notation, young musicians notate and perform the first eight measures of Friedrich von Schiller's theme to "Ode to Joy."
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Handout
Louisville Orchestra High Performance

Audience Etiquette Activity

For Students 1st - 6th Standards
Before you head to a performance, school pep rally, or sporting event with your class, be sure to review these worksheets and rubrics that discuss proper manners and etiquette at public events. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kotekan: A Cooperative Music Activity

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young musicians explore the rhythms and sounds of Balinese gamelan music, then create their own. They listen to several examples of gamelan music, then use their instruments to mimic the rhythms they hear. After a warm up and practice,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating an Original Opera

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This may be a lot to ask of a high schooler, but then again, who knows? Pupils work in groups to explore, write, and then perform an original opera. They view versions of The Magic Flute and La Traviata, then compose a plot, characters,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music: Caterpillars, How They Grow!

For Teachers 1st
Put on some music and get moving as a way to represent the life cycle of a caterpillar. Kids listen to the story The Very Hungary Caterpillar, discuss the life cycle, then create vocal expression that represent each stage of the cycle....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Name That Tune

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Integrating technology and music can be a snap with lessons like this one! Kids in a junior high band class took to the Internet to download and practice playing their instrument with a computer generated back up band. They practice...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Focus on Harmony

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Harmony is the focus of this band lesson plan. Upper graders play the Star Spangled Banner, while focusing on harmony, chords, and musical voice. This lesson plan includes several suggested cross-curricular activities.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Band On Line

For Teachers 6th
In 1996, using the Internet to enhance learning was a new innovation. While the instructional activity here is a bit outdated, it could still provide a basic understanding of how technology can enhance music appreciation. Members of the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Careers in Music - Notetaking Worksheet

For Students 6th - 8th
In this musical landscape worksheet, students follow the directions to answer 10 short answer questions after attending a musical performance, watching one on video, or listening to one on the radio.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Moving to Music Self-Discovery

For Students 6th - 8th
In this moving to music worksheet, students brainstorm about the types of movement they do when listening to music with a group of people. Then students select one of those movements and answer 14 short answer questions.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Film Music And the Use of Musical Riffs

For Students 5th - 6th
In this music worksheet, students examine the use of riffs in music (short repeated pattern to form the basis of a longer work). Students use a keyboard or piano to play three 4 measure riffs from film scores. Students write the name of...
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Article
Arizona State University

Arizona State University: Thoughts on Practicing

For Students 9th - 10th
Many great tips and strategies are provided here to help with practicing. Although written for oboe players, the advice here can apply to any instrumentalist.
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Website
Other

Basic Music Theory: Staccato

For Students 9th - 10th
This website gives the definition, a couple of charts, hypertext links, and a question and answer on "staccato."
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Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Home

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Music section of National Public Radio, featuring musical performances, interviews with musicians, and music reviews.
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Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: My Sound Is the Best! [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
For this lesson, students will use music as an impetus for stating and supporting opinions. They will compose an opinion poster based on a narrative about a train using percussion instruments. This will involve group work which can lead...
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Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: Module K: Shapes

For Teachers K Standards
In this series of STEAM activities, students will discover the concepts of geometry through shape exploration and the creation of choreographic sequences. Another activity in this module will allow students to identify shapes by applying...
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Website
Other

Online Practice Record

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] If you would like to be able to keep track of the amount of time you practice, you will want to visit this site. Students can create a free account and keep an online record of the amount of time they...
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Website
Other

Kentucky Music Educators Association (Kmea): Homepage

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Locate information about the organization's goals, history, membership, annual conference, newsletter, and news from individual districts within the association.
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Unit Plan
Other

Notezilla: Steve Goldman's "Acadian Dance"

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Steve Goldman's "Acadian Dance" provided with the full score. Learn how to follow a score or simply enjoy the music from this era as you follow along.