Researchers have recently discovered that
children who study music or play a musical instrument do better in school.
The students are going to investigate each of the families of the Symphony
Orchestra and choose the musical instrument that they would like to
learn to play or just become more familiar. This would be
especially helpful to the fourth and fifth grade students who will be beginning
elementary band in the sixth grade. Brainstorm with the students about
what questions they will need to research in order to make the best choice. What size?
Cost? Is there an instructor nearby? Do you like the
sound? Do you want to play the trumpet because you can use the one your sister or
brother played?
After they have investigated the families of
instruments through Inquiry and
Focus Activities, each
student will make a slide in PowerPoint of the instrument they have selected.
They will share this with their classmates
and combine them for a PowerPoint Presentation to be used for Open
House.
For their final project, the students will make an instrument using everyday
items that might have some of the characteristics of the instrument they have
chosen. The Inquiry Activities and the
video "Making and Playing Homemade Musical Instruments" will assist the students
in this project. The
Musical
Instrument Rubric will be given to them before they begin so they
will know what is expected.
After demonstrating their instrument for the class, the students will classify
the instruments by similar characteristics. To further extend this
project, the students could perform as a solo, an ensemble or an in "orchestra".
A performance for the primary grades could be both instructional and
entertaining.
Grade Levels: 3,4,5
Time: 10 class periods (30-45 minutes each)
Standards:
Oklahoma Priority Academic Student
Skills P.A.S.S.
General Music Grades 1-3
M. Recognize the tone quality of basic wind, string, and percussion instruments.
General Music Grades 4-5
P. Recognize and identify by listening, the instruments of the orchestra.
Instructional Technology-Introductory Level
1. Use the computer as a communication tool documents, electronic mail, the
Internet, telecommunications).
2. Develop problem solving skills through the use of computer software and
telecommunications.
3. Follow verbal and computer-given directions using instructional software.
