This page includes different resources, lesson plans or ideas for lesson plans that may be used in the future independently or in conjunction with another lesson.
Saturday Music Lab Unit (General Music)
saturday_music_lab_unit_directions.doc | |
File Size: | 33 kb |
File Type: | doc |
saturday_music_lab_unit.docx | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by W.A. Mozart arr. Merle Isaac Unit Plan
unit_plan_eine_kleine.docx | |
File Size: | 284 kb |
File Type: | docx |
How to Start Vibrato (Strings)
Step 1: Everybody starts with waving; start by having students wave to themselves. Tell them to use jelly fingers or to keep their fingers loose and relaxed.
Step 2: Everybody polishes their strings. Put hand in playing position so the fingers are just barely touching the strings then slide them up and down the length of the string (from knut to bout)
Step 3: Everybody does bout taps (fingers bent)
Step 4: Lower strings - shake a can of pop/ scratch their head. Upper strings first finger on perfling and bout taps, then 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Step 5: Everybody polishes their strings (review)
Step 6: Lower strings polish their strings - narrow it down to about a step and a half range. Upper strings, same thing, then either repeat Step 4 or try finger snaps - first finger on knuckle of thumb, snap first knuckle of first, second, and third fingers in and out. Or roll fingertips on desk/flat surface.
Step 7: Lower strings something sticky on your neck so your finger is stuck, but you are still trying to polish your strings (thumb can be off neck, but must be behind it) can add bow. Upper strings plant finger in middle of string (3rd or 4th pos. by bout) and tap the bout/wave. Start with 2nd finger then 3, then 1 and 4 last.
Step 8: Lower strings vibrato is complete add bow and practice on each finger on all strings. Remember vibrato is slower and wider on lower strings than higher strings. Upper strings move hand to first position and do the wave/bout taps with fingers planted in first position. Ta-Da! Vibrato! (Lower strings students struggling? Cello - Tennis ball on strings)
Exercises: Roll finger in time 2 beats forward, 2 beats back, then 1, then eighth note, then triplet, then sixteenths. Bumble bee on A, gets sleepy and slower Queen Bee says "Get back to work" on lowest string, Bumble Bee moves faster on A string again. (Upper strings) Plant finger on fingerboard and wave without thumb staying in place. Dot on fingertips, roll so it disappears. Egg shakers - get a bunch of Easter eggs and fill with M&M's (unless a student in the building has an extreme allergic reaction to peanuts, then use rice) and make egg-shakers for students to practice their left hand position and keeping their fingers loose while they shake. (You can also use tic-tacs) Tell them to focus on moving their finger knuckles, you can even teach them different parts to a rhythmic song and play it. (Oye Como Va) Egg-shakers don't really do anything to help lower strings vibrato, but you don't want to leave them out. Maybe they can use the egg-shakers to keep the beat while the upper strings shake eighth notes, triplets and sixteenth notes.
Disclaimer: Most of these techniques are not my own ideas and make sure you know whether or not there are students in your building who have any sort of extreme food allergies before putting candy of any sort into the egg-shakers.
Composition Assignment
Teach basic rules of counterpoint
Have students get into groups of 3 or 4 (their choice)
Distribute a copy of rules for them to follow
Have students draw key and time signatures out of a hat
Allot one class every week to work on composition. Have students share their composition once they are done.
See if some of them would like to be published?
Step 1: Everybody starts with waving; start by having students wave to themselves. Tell them to use jelly fingers or to keep their fingers loose and relaxed.
Step 2: Everybody polishes their strings. Put hand in playing position so the fingers are just barely touching the strings then slide them up and down the length of the string (from knut to bout)
Step 3: Everybody does bout taps (fingers bent)
Step 4: Lower strings - shake a can of pop/ scratch their head. Upper strings first finger on perfling and bout taps, then 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Step 5: Everybody polishes their strings (review)
Step 6: Lower strings polish their strings - narrow it down to about a step and a half range. Upper strings, same thing, then either repeat Step 4 or try finger snaps - first finger on knuckle of thumb, snap first knuckle of first, second, and third fingers in and out. Or roll fingertips on desk/flat surface.
Step 7: Lower strings something sticky on your neck so your finger is stuck, but you are still trying to polish your strings (thumb can be off neck, but must be behind it) can add bow. Upper strings plant finger in middle of string (3rd or 4th pos. by bout) and tap the bout/wave. Start with 2nd finger then 3, then 1 and 4 last.
Step 8: Lower strings vibrato is complete add bow and practice on each finger on all strings. Remember vibrato is slower and wider on lower strings than higher strings. Upper strings move hand to first position and do the wave/bout taps with fingers planted in first position. Ta-Da! Vibrato! (Lower strings students struggling? Cello - Tennis ball on strings)
Exercises: Roll finger in time 2 beats forward, 2 beats back, then 1, then eighth note, then triplet, then sixteenths. Bumble bee on A, gets sleepy and slower Queen Bee says "Get back to work" on lowest string, Bumble Bee moves faster on A string again. (Upper strings) Plant finger on fingerboard and wave without thumb staying in place. Dot on fingertips, roll so it disappears. Egg shakers - get a bunch of Easter eggs and fill with M&M's (unless a student in the building has an extreme allergic reaction to peanuts, then use rice) and make egg-shakers for students to practice their left hand position and keeping their fingers loose while they shake. (You can also use tic-tacs) Tell them to focus on moving their finger knuckles, you can even teach them different parts to a rhythmic song and play it. (Oye Como Va) Egg-shakers don't really do anything to help lower strings vibrato, but you don't want to leave them out. Maybe they can use the egg-shakers to keep the beat while the upper strings shake eighth notes, triplets and sixteenth notes.
Disclaimer: Most of these techniques are not my own ideas and make sure you know whether or not there are students in your building who have any sort of extreme food allergies before putting candy of any sort into the egg-shakers.
Composition Assignment
Teach basic rules of counterpoint
Have students get into groups of 3 or 4 (their choice)
Distribute a copy of rules for them to follow
Have students draw key and time signatures out of a hat
Allot one class every week to work on composition. Have students share their composition once they are done.
See if some of them would like to be published?