Lesson Plan for Kindergarten Age ³Chorus²
Exploring the
Musical Shape of Student Names in a One-Computer Classroom
National Standard: 1. Singing, alone and with others, a
varied repertoire of music.
4.
Composing and arranging music within specific guidelines.
6.
Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
Objective: Students
will demonstrate their ability to sing alone and physically demonstrate musical
direction with others while reading visual representation of musical arcs. Student will identify and demonstrate
given arcs and dips.
Purpose: To
reinforce concept of musical direction via aural, visual, kinesthetic and gross
loco-motor means.
Materials: Felt
board and foot long pieces of yarn, one imac computer connected to a big screen
television, access to Morton Subotnickıs http://www.creatingmusic.com
, paper and markers.
Anticipatory Set: Students
arrive to sit on a circular rug with a few pieces of yarn on the felt board
formed into various arcs and dips.
One shape is shaped in a steady incline, in order to represent steps 1-8
for hello song, ³Itıs so good to see you².
Procedure:
- T and
S sing ³Itıs so good to see you² and demonstrate 1-8 with hand levels.
Pianist accompanies. T asks which shape that they see might be part of
³Itıs so good to see you²?
Would anyone like to trace the shape when it happens in the
music? If no student
volunteers, T may demonstrate.
- T asks
if anyone would like to sing one of the other shapes on ³loo². S demonstrates
and traces shape with finger. T asks S to describe shape verses melodic
direction. S sing it together
with T acting as conductor.
- After
having a few volunteers sing through shapes already placed on board, T
asks if someone would like to create another shape using the felt for all
to sing. S demonstrates and
all vocalize together.
- T asks
if anyone would like to combine two or more shapes in order to create a
longer musical idea. S
responds, sings, and class vocalizes together. Change vowel?
- Time
to warm up our bodies! T
chooses one shape and asks how we might show this musical shape in our
bodies? T takes S suggestions.
Collectively decide on how to physically combine elements of
musical arc. Pianist may
accompany movement.
- T
hands out paper and markers and asks students to write the first letter of
their name big enough for all to see. How can you make the shape of this letter in your
body? Now how about by using
your voice? I brought a
surprise today- this computer is going to make music out of the letters in
your name!
- T
demonstrates with one student, how to use Subontnickıs Musical sketch Pad
to choose instrumentation and write out name. T chooses slowest playback, and asks S to describe what
they heard. Could they follow
it? T may trace sounds on
television screen to aide. S
identify and describe melodic direction of name.
- T asks
if we should have the computer play it slowly (click on the turtle), a bit
faster (bunny), or super fast (running bunny). S chooses not only instrumentation, but tempo of
playback. Did you like the
sound of one instrument better than another?
- Each S
has the opportunity to input a name into the computer, we listen and
describe. Be thinking about
which instruments you will use while youıre waiting for your turn! Anyone want to put the shapes in
your body while we play this name a second time?
- Does
this music tell you a story?
Check for Student Understanding:
- Would
anyone like to sing an arc and we will guess which one you sang? (Choice
of two shapes) Would anyone
like to conduct by tracing the arc?
Closure:
- I
wonder what shapes you will see on your way home that you might be able to
sing. Will you see any
circles? Stairs? Slides? Spirals? See saws, swings or a carousel? Elevators?
What will you see? Letıs ride the musical elevator together in order to
stand and gather at the door to leave today. Pianist accompanies.
Extensions:
- Future
lessons may include allowing students to turn their names upside down, or
listen to them backwards.
Augmentation and diminution are also possibilities with this
software. S may identify and
describe difference in melodic direction.
- Do you
think you could sing the shapes of your written name? How about your Mom or Dadıs?
- S may
like to come next time with a musical picture/story to sing.
- Encourage
parents to log on to http://www.creatingmusic.com
with their kids. Share their
experiences next time.