Composition Lesson Plan

Michael Thom
MusEd 353 Section 001
November 27, 2006

Composition Lesson: Composition with Boomwhackers

Grade Level: 8th grade

Length of Lesson: 5-7 minutes

Lesson Statement: The purpose of this lesson is to explore one way to compose very simple, short phrases of music.

Materials: Boomwhackers

Objectives: The students will explore the different sounds Boomwhackers can make and the ways in which they can be used to compose.  The students will compose 2-measure phrases.  The students will perform these phrases together, as a class.

National Standards used:

2.    Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
4.    Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.

Procedure:

Introduce activity

  1. Boomwhackers – you’ve all used these before
    1. Please remember how to handle them.
    2. What do we do with them when we’re not using them?
      1. (Set them on our laps.)
  1. Pass out Boomwhackers – one to each person
  2. We are going to compose music today!

Activity
1.       Compose
          a.       In pairs, come up with 8 beats (2 measures) of music.
          b.      One of you count it off (give them approximate tempo)
          c.      Both play
          d.      Remember what you came up with!
          e.      Try it a few times
          f.       A suggestion – use a lot of rests.
2.       Perform, Part I
          a.       In pairs, we will all perform.
          b.      One pair at a time, one person count it off, then both play.
3.       Perform, Part II
          a.      Whole class will play together!
          b.      I will count us off, and then everyone play what they composed.
          c.      We will do it a few times, so that we can all get the hang of it.
          d.      Great job!

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