Symphony

What makes music music? In this 4th grade symphony unit, we explored the 6 main elements of music including tempo, rhythm, form, texture, dynamics, and melody. During music class, students learned about a different aspect of music while integrating technology and hands on learning experiences. Each week, an extension lesson will be sent home. Please use this website as a learning tool. Each element of music was taught through a symphonic piece of music....and that's what students were able to enjoy at the concert! Have fun Sanford Creek students and families using this website for the extension activities!

#1 Tempo

The speed of the music which affects the mood and feeling of the music.

Is the music slow or fast? Does the tempo stay the same throughout the entire song?

Largo-Very Slow (like a snail)

Andante-Slow (like a cat walking and sneaking around)

Allegro-Fast (person jogging)

Presto-Very fast (NASCAR race car)

The example from the symphony highlighting the element of Tempo-George Gershwin's American In Paris Suite

1. Practice dribbling a basketball or soccer ball to the beat

2. Find your favorite coloring book and color to the speed of the music.

#2 Rhythm

Rhythm is the way sounds in music are put together.

There are long sounds, short sounds, and silent sounds.

Rhythm adds interest to the music!

The composer, Ernesto Lecuona uses complex rhythms such as syncopation in his composition titled Malaguena.

Listen for the all of the percussion instruments! What instruments did you see and hear?

Ask your parents if you can accompany Malaguena by putting two spoons together, similar to the castanets tapping eachother.

#3 Dynamics

Dynamics is another word for volume.

Is the music soft or is the music loud?

How does the volume affect the mood of the music?

The Italian words and abbreviations (such as fortissimo ff) seen in the picture to the right are what composers use to communicate with the musicians what dynamic level is intended.

#4 Melody

Melody is the combination of pitches of in music. Melody has notes that have high pitches and notes that have low pitches. Melody has steps, skips, and notes that stay the same.

Each pitch in melody is coded by an alphabet letter. There are 7 letters in the musical alphabet. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and they just repeat over and over again as the notes get higher or lower.

These notes are written on a staff. This is the "home" of the music notes. The treble clef has five lines and four spaces.

The element of melody is modeled in De Colores arranged by Terry Mizesko.

#5 Form

Form is the way that music is put together.

It adds structure to the music.

Sections can be labeled by letters or with the words verse/refrain.

What section comes first?

What comes next?

Are there parts or sections that repeat?

How are the sections of music alike and how are they different?

Ruth Crawford Seeger, a female composer, used variations of folk tunes into this orchestral piece titled Rissolty Rossolty.

#6 Texture

Texture is similar to the different materials to make a fabric. Some fabrics are thick like wool. Some fabrics are thin like linen.

Texture in music is the layering of different instruments and different sounds.

Are the instruments playing the same notes or different notes.

The element of texture is modeled in the Waltz from Masquerade Suite by Aram Khachaturian

Fourth graders really enjoyed the field trip to the symphony in February and March. It was so exciting to see all of my students' faces light up with excitement to see the music come to life.

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