ARTS EDUCATION TEACHER HANDBOOK

MIDDLE SCHOOL LESSON PLAN

Submitted by Rick Starling, Cumberland County Schools

Lesson Title:
Rehearsal and Sightreading Techniques [Rehearse "American Celebration" (last section, grade 4), Sightread "Patriotic Bits and Pieces" (grade 2)

Grade Level or Course:
8th Grade Band

Time Allotment:
45 minutes

Targeted Goals and Objectives from the 2000 North Carolina Arts Education Standard Course
of Study and Grade Level Competencies, K-12:

• 2.01 Play at least one instrument with appropriate posture, playing position, and technique.
• 2.02 Respond to the cues of a conductor.
• 2.05 Show respect for the instrumental playing efforts of others.
• 2.06 Play on at least one instrument, music at an appropriate and increasingly difficult level, with expressiveness and technical accuracy.
• 2.07 Play music written in modest ranges which may include changes of tempo, key, and meter.
• 5.01 Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted note and rest durations in 2/3, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 3/8, 2/2, and mixed meters.
• 5.02 Read melodic notation in the treble and bass clefs.
• 5.03 Identify symbols and traditional terms referring to expressive musical qualities including dynamics and tempo.
• 5.05 Show respect for the reading and notating efforts of others.
• 6.03 Describe and explain the basic principles of meter, rhythm, tonality, intervals, chords, and harmonic progressions in the analyses of music.
• 7.04 Show respect for the musical efforts and opinions of others.
• 9.01 Describe and explain the distinguishing characteristics of representative music genres and styles from a variety of cultures.

Targeted Goals and Objectives from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and Grade
Level Competencies, K-12 for other content areas:

Second Language

• 1.03 Ask and answer questions using learned material orally and in writing.
• 1.06 Use culturally acceptable vocabulary and idiomatic expressions in conversation.
• 2.01 Follow oral and written directions, commands, and requests.
• 2.06 Interpret phrases presented with accompanying gestures, intonation, and other visual or auditory cues.

Mathematics

• 1.09-Find the fractional part of a whole number using models and pictures.

Information Skills

Competency Goal 5 - The learner will COMMUNICATE reading, listening, and viewing experiences. 5.01 Respond to reading, listening, viewing experiences orally, artistically, dramatically, through various formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based).

Lesson Objective(s):

In preparation for an upcoming performance, students will demonstrate mastery of correct notes and rhythms in "American Celebration", 126-end. They will demonstrate previously learned sightreading techniques with "Patriotic Bits and Pieces", including using the STARS method, tizzling, and playing the piece.

Materials/Equipment Needed:

2 Musical Scores, all parts, pencils, instruments, whiteboard with marker.

Lesson Procedure:

1. WARM-UP
   Students will begin with the warm up as stated on the classroom whiteboard. This includes the following scales: Concert Bb (conducted long tones) Concert Eb (Chorale form), and Concert G (All-District Style). Director will stop and correct fingerings, embouchure, etc as needed. (5 minutes total) Necessary brief announcements will follow the warm-up. (2 minutes)
2. REHEARSAL
   Ensemble will begin at m. 126 and play to the end. Then, individuals or groups of instruments will be isolated and asked to play several measures. Director will check for any corrections to notes and rhythms as necessary. All other members of the ensemble will "tizzle" designated section while the isolated group plays.? This rehearsal strategy is repeated with different groups of instruments until all notes and rhythms are correct. Students are asked to mark with a pencil individual problem spots to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. The entire ensemble will then play the same section, now more aware of not only their own parts, but how they fit with the ensemble. (This awareness is accomplished throughout the rehearsal when groups not asked to play out loud tizzle along with those who do. (15 minutes)
3. SIGHTREAD
   Section leaders will pass out Patriotic Bits and Pieces to members of their sections. Together, we use the STARS method for sightreading. We mentally and verbally notate key changes, meter and tempo changes, etc. I ask for any specific questions. Starting at the beginning, students tizzle through the entire piece with me. Then, I ask once more for questions. Upon answering any specific questions students may have, students play entire piece without stopping. The section leaders collect the music, and turn it in to me at the end of the lesson.

Assessment:

During warm-up, give immediate and specific feedback (Observations) regarding incorrect notes, posture, support, embouchure, and other musical elements. During REHEARSAL, small groups are corrected while the rest of the students engage in independent practice, and are then given the opportunity to apply the corrections when playing through the section with the ensemble (Performance). Students assess themselves, their particular groups, and the ensemble. During SIGHTREADING, students assess themselves with guided practice (Conversations).

Special Considerations:

Band students must understand the STARS method (as introduced in Essential Elements 2000) to execute this lesson. They must be accustomed to the tizzling process (using air, fingerings, tongue) without producing a tone). They should have at least two years of band experience to rehearse grade 4 and sightread grade 2. The order for the lesson should be on the board before class begins, so students will know what the goals are for the day.

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