Victoria Alaimo

A&HM 4029

Project #3: Elementary Lesson Plan

SMALL GROUP A STRING LESSON

OBJECTIVES: String Students will be able to play and read notes on the A String by learning to identify each note by name, location on the staff, and finger number on their instrument. Students will learn to play different fingering patterns using these notes by performing different permutations and creating their own.

PURPOSE: Students will develop comfort with reading and using notes on the A string.

MATERIALS:

v Instrument (violin, viola, cello or bass)

v Computer with notation software

v Projector and projection screen

v Power point presentation prepared with musical examples of A string notes identified by name, location on staff, and finger number

v Essential Elements Book 1Method book for each student with musical examples that coincide with the ones in Power Point

v Audio CD of accompaniments for method book musical examples

v Boom Box or stereo with a CD player

ANTICIPATORY SET: A string notes are shown on the overhead in Power Point on the staff, students are asked to guess what the finger pattern for the four notes are.

PROCEDURE:

1. Teacher plays (pizzicato only) each note on the A string in different rhythmic patterns (one note at a time), students repeat.
2. Teacher plays different rhythmic patterns using only two notes (2nds), students repeat (i.e. open A and B, then B and C, then C and D). Repeat exercise for thirds.
3. PowerPoint presentation shows names of notes on staff (one note for each slide-slides moved by teacher to accommodate the students abilities) teacher sings notes, students repeat. Singing, repeat step 2 of procedure.
4. With instruments repeat step 2: Students play and say notes (using note names then finger numbers).
5. Teacher plays examples (without PowerPoint) on instrument and students repeat.
6. Open method book to musical examples for the notes on the A string.
7. Sing first example with audio accompaniment: students point in their music and sing.
8. Students Play same example with accompaniment CD.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 until group finishes all examples on the A string.
10. Teacher plays four note permutations of A string notes and students repeat.
11. Have each student lead the class with their own four-note pattern. Ask students to remember their four-note pattern.
12. Setup notation software program on the projection screen (window should be open and ready to go on the desktop)

STUDENT UNDERSTANDING:

1. Students are able to sing and perform notes by sight and ear.
2. Students are able to identify notes on the staff by pointing to their location on the overhead.
3. Students are asked to perform alone and in groups in order for teacher to assess group and individual progress.

CLOSURE:

Have each student go up to the projection screen and point to where the notes in their permutation go on the staff. Teacher inputs the note on the staff as the students point. Put each permutation in a different measure and create a group-composed song. Perform the song together.

EXTENSIONS:

Students can repeat the same lesson on each string. Students can repeat the notation portion of the lesson to combine notes from more than one string in order to explore and learn larger intervals.