Teaching Examples

Teaching a Canon

Overview: Teaching the canon "Sweetly the Swan Sings" at O'Donnel Middle School in Stoughton, MA as part of an independent choral lab course at Boston University, Fall 2022.

(No, we did not coordinate the yellow that day)

Objective:

To sing a canon in at least 2 parts
To explore vocal tone

Assessment:

Can the students sing the melody line confidentially in unison?

Standards:

N.M.Cr.03
N.P.Cr.04

Possible Extensions:

Break off into more parts
Explore different birds and what sounds they make and how that changes the tone, quality, and phrasing of the vocal line
Students can compose their own rythmic or melodic ostinati over the original melody

Foley Artist Lesson

Overview: As part of "Newsies" week at the Vacation Arts Camp at Arlington Center for the Arts (Summer 2022), the music class explored how music and sound may be made for different types of media, including movies. Goals of this project included: instrument exploration, problem-solving, and working as a group.

Differentiations were made for younger groups and older groups, including mapping out what is happening in the scene as a group, assigning sounds/instruments, etc...

Student Compositions

Overview: Students aged 7-12 composed their own music based on weekly themes "Walk on the Wild Side" and "Myths & Legends" at Arlington Center for the Arts' Vacation Arts Camp, (Summer 2022).

Lesson Description for Older Groups: In the first two compositions, the oldest group was tasked with creating a 15-20 second song on the xylophone using a predetermined set of notes based on their the constellation of their Western zodiac sign.

The first composition is a student, aged 11.

The second composition are students aged 9 and 10 who chose to work together.

Student Age 11_Sagitarrius.wav

Two Students, Aged 9 and 10, Gemini.wav

Lesson Description for Younger Groups: Students were taksed with creating a 15-20 second song on the xylophpne using a predetermined set of notes based on one of three consetallations they may see in the night sky: Ursa Major (The Big Dipper), Canis Major (The Big Dog), Pegasus (The Flying Horse). Lyrics were optional.

Student, aged 7, "Pegasus"

Student Age 7_Pegasus.wav

"Nessie the Loch Ness Monster"

Overview: A song about the Loch Ness monster taught at Arlington Center for the Arts' Vacation Arts Camp during "Myths and Legends" week (Summer 2022).

Movements were created together.

music tech_lesson plan example.pdf

Music Technology Unit Design

Completed for a music technology course at Boston University

Includes lesson reflections.

Page updated