Music National Content Standard #2

Browse these resources to find lesson plans and activities that support the Music National Content Standard #2: "Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music." Use these resources to teach rhythm, to improve students' technical skills, and to introduce instruments from around the world. Explore jazz, drum beats, mariachi music, and more! You'll find great strategies for teaching instrument performance at any grade level.

Performance References Connecting Standards with Orchestral Performances A discussion and strategies for integrating the Standards into orchestra rehearsals. Performing Music in the Classroom, Standard 2 Suggestions for standard correlations and the benefits of teaching the guitar and keyboard in the classroom. Technology Strategies -- National Music Standard #2 Learn how to use technology to teach instrument performance with these activities and strategies for music education. Instrument Lesson Plans Improving Expression and Accuracy with Handbells Have students in grades 9-12 perform a varied repertoire of instrumental literature with expression and technical accuracy. Instruments and Melodies Use chords to help students in grades 5-8 play simple tunes on a melodic instrument and simple accompaniments on a harmonic instrument. Rhythms and Body Percussion Students in grades K-4 echo short rhythms and melodic patterns by using their bodies. Creating Opera Work with students to improvise dialogue (speaking and singing), music, and scenery to turn a story into an emotional performance. Jazz and Math: Rhythmic Innovations Learn about the use of fractions in music. Tap Your Feet Students will practice following a pattern and become familiar with the concept of beat in music. They will be introduced to tempo. They will gain experience playing the beat on non-pitched rhythm instruments, at various tempos. This activity will culminate in the creation of a rhythm piece. Multicultural Lesson Plans Chinese Percussion Music Teach students about Chinese percussion instruments and ensemble performances. Use this music lesson to celebrate Asian History Month and the Chinese New Year. Describing Drum Beats in Native American Music Work with students to perform a Native American song and dance, Owl Dance. Allow them to describe and analyze the drum patterns and changing styles of the music and dance. Hispanic Rhythmic Patterns and Drums Use a lesson that helps students understand drum rhythms, performing as a group, and improvising melodies. Introduction to the Panpipe Use a lesson that introduces the history of Peruvian and Bolivian panpipes and presents instructions for creating and playing a panpipe.

Mexican-American Mariachi Music Introduce your students to the mariachi with this lesson. Native American Music: Call-and-Response Introduce students to a call-and-response form of Native American song and dance. Dynamics and Timbre of "Amani Utupe" Students will perform with appropriate musical dynamics and accompany the music using non-pitched percussion instruments. "Garifalia": Greek Folk Song & Dance Familiarize your students with "Garifalia," a Greek folk song and dance, using this detailed lesson plan. Instrument Activities Teaching Accuracy Through Silent Rehearsal Students in grades 9-12 learn how their part fits into an ensemble by silently playing their instruments while another part of the class plays aloud. Percussion Performance and Culture Students in grades 5-8 study African and Native American percussion, consider music's cultural relevance, and perform in the style of the genre. Teaching Rhythms Through Echo Help students in grades K-4 with rhythm and melody by using the echo technique and basic percussion instruments. Musical Passports: Building Musical Bridges Young children can learn to understand the organization of language by learning song lyrics. There are activities for "On the Bridge at Avignon", "Eency Weency Spider", "Grandma Moses", and "Are You Sleeping". Twinkle, Twinkle: Music and Curricular Connections Using children's songs, these lessons show how to teach music while meeting curriculum standards. There are activities for "It's So Good to See You", "Hello There", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", and "Who's That Tapping at the Window?". Related Resources National Standards for Music Education Incorporate the nine National Standards for Music Education into your curriculum. Use these resources to teach students in grades K-12 about singing, instruments, music composition, and much more! Strategies for Music Education Discover great teaching strategies for music education. Help young children learn about singing, instruments, and music composition by incorporating these lessons and techniques in your classroom. Music Resources for Teachers Bring some music into your classroom with lessons and printables! Celebrate Music in Our Schools Month in March, or enjoy music on a regular basis with your students.

Provided in partnership with MENC