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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lighting The Way - Activity 1

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students discover the "rule of thirds" technique used in photography through the investigation of magazine and newspaper pictures and an in-class discussion. The work of photojournalist Jeff Bizzel is emphasized.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bedrich Smetana

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the Genesee River and they describe the different things they might see on its shore. They are asked to name different activities people do around the river. Students related the Genesee to the Moldau, they are told a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compositional Techniques: Are There Similarities Between

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize how chromatic scales create tension and pentatonic scales create relaxation as compositional techniques used to create tonality. Also, students aurally recognize the use of mixed or alternating meter as a means of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DIGITAL WATERWORKS

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students add digitally-produced, water sound effects to a song, using electronic keyboards.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Open Sesame: A Magical World of Reading

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders, through six lessons, study tales of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin and the Lamp from The Arabian Nights.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet Louis Prima!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students discover the difference in major and minor tonality after a brief introduction to Louis Prima. They discuss swing dancing and Louis Prima's role in the "Jungle Book" as the character King Louis. Students listen to the song...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1's When Disco Ruled the World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars create their own song with lyrics.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 Classic Presents: Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Lesson 3

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students in a guitar class perform the Beatles song, Eleonor Rigby and study it's melodic and harmonic structures. They discover the process of arranging the song for a 4-part guitar ensemble.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discussion: The Arts

For Teachers 5th - 7th
For this discussion about the arts worksheet, learners ask and answer questions concerning the arts and support of the arts.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Only If by Enya

For Students 6th - 9th
In this song lesson worksheet, students learn about the song Only If by Enya. They learn about the song background, as well as the grammar and vocabulary of the song.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Do a Biography!

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students sequence events of a biography for a person from the District of Columbia. In this sequence of events instructional activity, students read about the life of Duke Ellington and sequence the events of his lifetime into a timeline...
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Music Composition

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete, undergraduate level online course on music composition. Includes all course material, projects, assignments, and exams with solutions.
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Composing With Computers

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete, undergraduate level online course on music composition with computers. Includes all course material, projects, assignments, and exams with solutions.
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Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: Composing With Solfege

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Through solfege, learners will create their own musical compositions as Maria did in the musical The Sound of Music.
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Website
University of Pittsburgh

Center for American Music Stephen Foster's Career

For Students 9th - 10th
This University of Pittsburgh site provides a wealth of information about American songwriter Stephen Foster. This link discusses his professional career with various other links within the text about minstrel shows, etc. Return to the...
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Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Scoring Music: Write for Specific Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
If you are interested in arranging your own music, you should check out the tips offered at this website. Including a history of how music was arranged, this site also gives several good ideas of how to make your arrangements interesting.
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Activity
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz: Duke's Music Class

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about jazz from the master, Duke Ellington. Three activities explore his role as jazz composer, orchestra leader, and pianist.
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Website
Classical Net

Classical Net: Renaissance Repertoire: Renaissance Composers

For Students 9th - 10th
Those well-versed in music will find this site helpful, as it offers biographical information on a number of Renaissance composers, along with pictures and information on compositions.
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Activity
University of Virginia

Music Paper

For Students 9th - 10th
Composing your own music is just a click away with this blank music paper. Several templates are available to help you quickly begin composing. Simply select the one you would like and print out as many copies as you need.
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Activity
Other

Music Sheaf: Music Paper

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is an excellent site that allows you to print your own music paper. The great feature of this site is that you can also create your own customized version of music paper to better suit your needs.
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Website
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Dallas Symphony Orchestra

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Students will enjoy this interactive website. There are many musical topics to explore while having fun. Learning how to make your own instrument, playing games and listening to music are just a few of the things you can do here.
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Website
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Dallas Symphony Orchestra

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Students will enjoy this interactive website. There are many musical topics to explore while having fun. Learning how to make your own instrument, playing games and listening to music are just a few of the things you can do here.
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Website
Other

Using Theme and Variation in Composing

For Students 9th - 10th
A good article on how to take a musical idea and develop it further using theme and variations. Included are a few music samples in written form and mp3 form that help to explain the concept.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Elements of Music: Exploring the Composer's Tools

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This online lesson will help students understand how composers write music by engaging in a project which culminates in their own compositions.