Music National Content Standard #6

Listen to, analyze, and describe music in your classroom with these lessons, activities, and references that support the Music National Content Standard #6. Incorporate technology, mathematics, and language arts in the study of rhythm, pitch, mood, and tempo. There are a variety of lesson plans that explore different musical styles from the past to the present. Whether your class is studying jazz, gospel music, opera, or pop, you'll find great resources below!

References Technology Strategies -- National Music Standard #6 Connect technology and music education in your classroom. These student activities and teacher strategies use computer-assisted instruction and multimedia software to help students analyze music. Strategies for Developing Basic Music Knowledge These tips to help your students learn the basics behind playing a musical instrument. Connecting Standards with Orchestral Performances A discussion and strategies for integrating the Standards into orchestra rehearsals. Rhythm Lessons & Activities Jazz and Math: Rhythmic Innovations Learn about the use of fractions in music. Rhythm and Melodic Phrase in Little Birch Tree Students will listen to and describe the variations of a theme in a classical selection, The Little Birch Tree. Hispanic Rhythmic Patterns and Drums Use a lesson that helps students understand drum rhythms, performing as a group, and improvising melodies. Harmony of Tearin' Up My Heart Learn about the harmony with *NSYNC's Tearin' Up My Heart. Lessons on Musical Styles Chinese Opera Introduce your class to the artistic characters, vocal music, and instruments of Chinese opera. African-American Gospel Music Introduce gospel music while explaining lyrical meaning and cultural values. Defining Jazz Music These lessons and activities explore sound and how sound is defined in jazz. A Jazz Talk Show Students will explore the lives of various jazz musicians, studying the social and historical events current in the lives of the musicians and becoming familiar with their musical styles. This activity will culminate in the production of a news/talk show highlighting the lives of these musical figures. Learning through The Duke Students will learn about the important contributions made by Duke Ellington to the field of jazz, as well as some of the factors that led to his involvement in the field. Native American Music: Call-and-Response Introduce students to a call-and-response form of Native American song and dance. Musical Roots Teach the relationship of today's pop vocal music and other American vocal genres.

Instrument Lesson Plans 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. 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. Cross-Curricular Connections Music and Interdisciplinary Connections Teach students to understand relationships between music and other art forms. Interactive Timeline Students will explore ragtime music and gain an understanding of its development in relation to jazz. They will also investigate the historical events during the time the genre evolved. Graphing Pitch Distribute a group activity that explains the musical relationship between length of instruments and their pitch. Math and Music: Fibonacci Sequence Students discover that patterns in music that relate to the Fibonacci Sequence. Can You Hear a Story? Students will explore creating moods with music, analyze a story, and the create a musical composition that reflects and enhances the story. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe: Music and Children's Literature Use children's literature to help teach music. Explore nursery rhymes with your students and make musical connections to books with these activities. 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. More Music 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

2008 Summer Olympics

Celebrate this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, China, with our resources, activities, and lessons.

Teaching about Natural Disasters

The world has suffered two natural disasters this May — Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. These tragedies may have your students wondering why such large catastrophes occur. We have resources to help you explain earthquakes and cyclones, and for dealing with the subjects of death and crisis with your class.

July Events

Find educational activities for every day in July. Take a look at our Summer Activities Slideshow for our favorite summer-themed activities, lessons, and printables.

Sign up for our Great Stuff for Teachers newsletter to keep up-to-date on all of our seasonal lessons and printables.

New Customizable Printables

Easily create personalized hall and office passes or teacher stationary with our customizable classroom passes and notes. Prepare for substitute teachers, field trips, parent-teacher conferences, and more with our customizable charts and forms.

Drama Resources

Explore our drama resources – from Shakespearean plays to The Miracle Worker to Readers Theater – to widen your curricular focus. Students will enjoy the change of pace that putting on a classroom play will bring!

ADD/ADHD Resources

From frequently asked questions to assessment accommodations, these articles and resources will help you to deal with the special nature of students with ADD/ADHD.