ARTS EDUCATION TEACHER HANDBOOK

MUSIC :: HIGH SCHOOL LESSON PLAN

HIGH SCHOOL LESSON PLAN

 

Submitted by Michael Williams, Cumberland County Schools

Lesson Title:
Rhythm Counting

Grade Level or Course:
Band (Instrumental Music I)

Time Allotment:
3 (55 minute) lessons for the process 1 (55 minute lesson for the performances and evaluation (will vary depending on the number of students per class)

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

  • 5.01 Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth and dotted note and rest durations in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 3/8, 9/8 12/8, cut time and mixed meters.
  • 5.02 Demonstrate the ability to read individual parts of an instrumental score by describing how the elements of music are used.
  • 5.03 Sight-read moderately difficult examples with accuracy and expression.
  • 5.04 Notate moderately difficult music examples using standard notation.
  • 5.05 Identify and define standard notation symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and expression.
  • 5.06 Show respect for the reading and notation efforts of others.

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

  • English Language Arts-reading
  • Math skills-fractions

 

Alignment with NC High School Exit Exam:

  • Communication 7
  • Processing Information 9
  • Problem Solving 15
  • Using Numbers and Data 22

 

Lesson Objective(s):

By the end of this lesson, students will demonstrate a better understanding of time signatures and rhythm counting.

Materials/Equipment Needed:

Music, pencils, and instruments.

 

Lesson Procedure:

Lesson 1 (55 minutes)

  • Students will be given music written in unison parts with various rhythms in 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 time. Time signatures, their purpose and their relationship to beat duration will be explained (a 4 on bottom means the quarter note gets one count).
  • Students will be taught a system of counting.
  • Students will write in the counts underneath each note.
  • Students will clap and count out loud the appropriate rhythms.
  • Students will "tizzle" (tonguing the rhythms out loud while fingering the notes on their instrument) through the exercises).
  • Students will play the exercises on their instruments.

Lesson 2 (55 minutes)

  • Students will be given music written in unison parts with various rhythms in 3/8, 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8. Time signatures, their purpose and their relationship to beat duration will be explained (an 8 on bottom means the eighth note gets one beat).
  • Students will be taught a system of counting.
  • Students will write in the counts underneath each note.
  • Students will clap and count out loud the appropriate rhythms.
  • Students will "tizzle" (tonguing the rhythms out loud while fingering the notes on their instrument) through the exercises.
  • Students will play the exercises on their instruments.

Lesson 3 (55 minutes)

  • Students will be given music written in unison parts with various rhythms in cut time. Time signatures, their purpose and their relationship to beat duration will be explained (a 2 on bottom means the half note gets one beat).
  • Students will be taught a system of counting.
  • Students will write in the counts underneath each note.
  • Students will then clap and count out loud the appropriate rhythms.
  • Students will then "tizzle" (tonguing the rhythms out loud while fingering the notes on their instrument) through the exercises.
  • Students will then play the exercises on their instruments.

Assessment of individuals:

Students will take written tests.
Students will perform various rhythms in different time signatures on their instrument.
Students will take "dictation" of rhythms played be the instructor.

Assessment of group:

Students will be given music written in unison to perform.
Students will be given music with independent parts to perform.
Students will be given band music of different grade levels to sight-read.

Special Considerations:

This lesson can be adapted to band students of all levels. Materials for these lessons can be purchased or written through the use of music notation programs such as Finale, Encore, Sibelius etc.

 

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