Becca Warfel

Lesson Plan 1: Modeling Unit: Teaching Concert F

I chose to base my lesson on Edwin Gordons Music Learning Theory. This theory is based on audiation,
or musical thought. Gordon believes that musicians should be able to hear their intended pitch in their
head before playing it. He also believes that beginner musicians should focus on hearing pitches before
they attempt to read them on a page. In this lesson no written music will be used. The students will do
breathing warm ups and will hum a concert F before playing it.
1. Time Needed 5-7 minutes
2. Materials Needed Each student will need their instrument. I will need a piano (for pitch) and my
trombone (for modeling).
3. Learning Objectives The students will learn to play a concert F. They will learn to breathe and
play in unison.
4. Assessment The students will play a concert F. They will breathe and play in unison.
5. Personal Objective I will be confident modeling with my trombone even though I cant play it
very well yet.
6. Procedures
a. I will tell the students to put their instruments on their laps. The tuba players can just hold the
tubas, but Ill tell them not to play.
b. We will work on some rhythmic breathing exercises. I will tell the students to breathe in for 8
counts and out for 8 counts, filling their lungs and then emptying them completely. After I
explain the exercise, I will conduct 4 beats and breathe in on 1. I will breathe in for 8 and out
for 8. Then I will tell them to join me and we will do it together. If we are not all breathing
together I will tell them to make sure they are breathing on 1 and we will repeat it.
c. We will repeat this breathing in for 4 and out for 4. I will model and then breathe with them.
d. We will repeat this breathing in for 1 beat and out for 4. I will tell them to breathe in on 4
instead of 1 and I will model how to do it before we do it together.
e. I will tell the students that we are going to practice playing concert F. I will tell them that we
will hum it first and then each section will come in when I tell them to. The instruments that
begin will hold their F but may breathe as needed.
f. I will tell the students to watch me first. I will play an F on the piano, I will hum the pitch,
and then I will play the note on my trombone. Ill remind them to wait until their instrument
is called on to play.
g. I will play the F on the piano and we will hum it together.
h. I will point to the students instrument by instrument. I will signal the oboes and flutes last so
they dont get out of breath/worn out. (The students hum until I signal them to play.)
i. Once everyone is playing I will cut them off and tell them to play together on beat 1. (I will
conduct 4 beats, breathe on 4, play on 1)
j. I will repeat this until everyone starts and stops together.
7. Closure I will congratulate the students for playing a good F. I will encourage them to practice
this note at home.

Inclusion of Music Learning Theory Steps b-d: These steps require the students to audiate
rhythm. They must breathe in time without reading the rhythms on a page.
Steps e-g: The students must audiate by matching their humming with the piano.
Step h: The students must be able to match the pitch with their instruments.