Daily Lesson Plan Template: Classroom Music

Teacher Name:
Date____________
School Building__________________________
Grade/Class______________
Lesson Plan
Unit Title:
Previous Lesson:
Todays Lesson
A. Aim:
This lesson illustrates the use of two of the most common progressions in traditional, Western
music. The use of technology allows the students to explore a variety of textures and
instrumentations. This exploratory period with technology allows each small group to compose
without disturbing the other aurally.
B. Objectives:
Students will demonstrate the use of the authentic and cadences and perform their
works in their small groups. Students will use technology to notate all compositions.
C. Content:
D. Materials:
Computer lab, outfitted with notation software (Preferably Sibelius or Finale)
Head phones for each student
Playback speakers suitable for entire class
Student instruments for live playback (provided by each individual student).

E. Procedure:
After anticipatory set, students will move into their small composition groups. Each student will
be required to write a progression in a notation software program and be given the opportunity to
hear and analyze it. It may more or less complicated than the hymn-tune. In the case of the
authentic cadence, the progression must include at least, I IV V I. In the case of the half
cadence, it must include, I iii vi IV V. They must be orchestrated to match their
composition groups instrumentation. The proper doublings and voice leadings must be obeyed.
In the case of the latter, the rhythm must reflect the pause on the V.
F. Assessment:

The teacher will be sure to look in on each student during the individual creative process. The
teacher will listen to the students compositions at various stages throughout the class period and
give the student feedback and possibly suggestions on where to go from there.
G. Standards Addressed
National:
State:
H. Next Lesson & Assignment
From here students could be encouraged to compose their own chord progressions with
full rhythmic and melodic development. Student-generated hymn-like compositions might be
the lesson immediate following. Composing similar pieces for a different group of instruments
may be a great lesson for the future.

Daily Lesson Plan Template: Classroom Music

Teacher Name: Darcie Pickering
Date____________
School Building__________________________
Grade/Class______________
Lesson Plan
Unit Title:
Previous Lesson:

Todays Lesson
A. Aim:
This lesson will allow students to study one form in an intensive manner and then present their
project to the class. The class will learn about other musical forms through the viewing of their
peers projects.
B. Objectives:
Through the use of video and editing equipment, students will demonstrate their understanding
of various musical forms. Forms included in this lesson might be, Through Composed, Cannon,
Theme and Variations, Rondo, and ABA.
C. Content:
D. Materials:
3-4 digital video cameras (one per group of 3-4 students)
DV tapes
iMovie
if possible iDVD (not necessary)
blank DVDs
E. Procedure:
Assign one form to each group. Tell groups not to tell the other groups what form they
have.
Instruct each group to find a piece of music that is written in the form that they have been
assigned. You can ask them to find music from a specific genre/time period, or leave it up to
them. If they are allowed to use pop music, the teacher, for obvious reasons, should approve it
first.
The next class period should be an open lab. Students may want to start by listening to
the piece and mapping out a storyboard or plan for the filming process.
The students should then begin filming. A second class period may be needed to finish
filming. Groups may also want to work on this outside of class.
Next, the groups will import their footage into iMovie and begin the editing process.
They may want to turn the track volume on the video off and import the song from iMovie thus
eliminating room noise.
When the videos are complete, save them and burn them to a DVD.
F. Assessment:
Watch the videos as a class. Have the groups guess which form is being depicted. You will know
whether they get it or not.
G. Standards Addressed

National:
State:
H. Next Lesson & Assignment
You may want to assign each group a piece of music and ask them to identify the form and then
make the video. This project may also be incorporated into a unit on composition. In this case,
the students may be asked to write their own piece of music in a certain form and then produce a
video.