Music Tech Lesson Plan
What in the world? Unusual musical instruments Listening and responding
Grade level K-8
Objective Students will explore unusual instruments, how they produce musical sounds and identify how they are made
USA Music ● 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. Education Standards
Australian Music ● 2.1 Develop aural skills by exploring and imitating Curriculum sounds, pitch and rhythm patterns using voice, Standards movement and body percussion ● 4.1 Develop aural skills by exploring, imitating and recognising elements of music including dynamics, pitch and rhythm patterns ● 6.2 Develop technical and expressive skills in singing and playing instruments with understanding of rhythm, pitch and form in a range of pieces, including in music from the community ● 8.1 Experiment with texture and timbre in sound sources using aural skills
Materials/Equipment ● Youtube video/s of unusual musical instruments (some suggestions below, but you can use a video of your choice) ● Computer or other device connected to the internet ● Data projector and speakers ● Attached worksheet - printed copies for students to fill out, or digital copies that can be completed on their tablet devices
Duration 1 lesson
Skills required Students should have an understanding what sound is and how it is produced
Procedure Select video ● This lesson is adaptable so you can use it for any video showing an unusual musical instrument ● See list of video suggestions in the Resources section below, or choose your own Show your chosen musical instrument video to class ● Show video to class on data projector, with speakers plugged into computer ● Discuss the instrument as a group - how does it produce sound? Is there someone to play the instrument? What is it made of? Describe the timbre Ask students to record their response to the provided questions ● They can write responses on the provided worksheet
Extensions ● Classify the instrument using the Hornbostel-Sachs classification systemExplore other unusual musical instruments ● Research the history of the instrument ● Make your own musical instrument
Evaluation The students can successfully identify how sounds are produced by musical instruments
Other resources
Youtube video suggestions (just a few to get you started!)
1. Andrew Huang - carrot slide whistle and carrot recorder https://youtu.be/ro8xEvYLR_Q
2. Wintergarten - marble machine https://youtu.be/IvUU8joBb1Q
3. OK Go - Needing/Getting https://youtu.be/MejbOFk7H6c
4. RimbaTubes - Snubby J Star wars medley https://youtu.be/0hj0hShhZ5c
5. Candyman played with 50,000 M&Ms https://youtu.be/mPtE3ZQFn5s (behind the scenes https://youtu.be/puIA7A_bOIE )
6. Glass armonica - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy https://youtu.be/eQemvyyJ--g
7. Street artist playing crystal glasses https://youtu.be/lAEXH9DAH98
8. Xylophone in forest - Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring https://youtu.be/r-uEbJOrUYY
9. Animusic - Pipe Dream https://youtu.be/hyCIpKAIFyo
10. Vi Hart - Pachelbel’s Canon on music box https://youtu.be/3a9wWRxYSko
Want More?
Hello! I’m Katie Wardrobe – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music.
I’m a qualified teacher but no, I don’t currently teach in a school. I help teachers through my online professional development space - the Midnight Music Community - where there are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources. I like to focus on easy ways to incorporate technology into what you are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of creative projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at countless conferences and other music education events.
If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to help you inside the Midnight Music Community.
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WHAT IN THE WORLD...?
N A M E C L A S S
V I D E O T I T L E
P E R F O R M E R / A R T I S T
WHAT IS THE INSTRUMENT? IT REMINDS ME OF...
WHAT IS IT MADE OF? HOW DOES IT MAKE A SOUND?
HOW DOES THE PERFORMER PLAY IT?
WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT IT (CIRCLE ONE) WHAT IN THE WORLD...?
N A M E C L A S S
V I D E O T I T L E
P E R F O R M E R / A R T I S T
WHAT IS THE INSTRUMENT IN THE DOES IT REMIND YOU OF ANY VIDEO? OTHER INSTRUMENT? IF SO, WHICH ONE?
DESCRIBE THE MATERIALS USED HOW DOES THE INSTRUMENT PRODUCE A TO MAKE THE INSTRUMENT SOUND?
IF THERE IS A PERFORMER, HOW DO OTHER OBSERVATIONS? THEY PLAY THE INSTRUMENT? WHAT TECHNIQUES DO THE USE?
WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT IT (CIRCLE ONE)