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Musical Symbols Lesson
6th Grade Class
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Student Teacher: Aimon Dwan
Objectives:
1. Students associate terms and definitions with the correct musical symbols.
2. Students identify musical symbols in their orchestra music.
3. Students implement the instructions provided by musical symbols.
National Standards for Music Education addressed:
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
5. Reading and notating music.
Ohio’s 2003 Academic Content Standards in Fine Arts – Music Addressed:
2. Creative Expression and Communication
Students sing, play instruments, improvise, compose, read and notate music.
 Benchmark A (for grades 5-8): Perform a piece of music, independently or
in a group, with technical accuracy and expression.
 Benchmark C (for grades 5-8): Identify and recognize in a piece of music
the following: clef, key signature, meter signature, tempo, dynamic
markings and note values.
3. Analyzing and Responding
Students listen to a varied repertoire of music and respond by analyzing and
describing music using correct terminology. Students evaluate the creating and
performing of music by using appropriate criteria.
 Benchmark A (Grades 5-8): Describe and evaluate a piece of music
using developed criteria based on elements of music and music
vocabulary.
Materials:
 “Chronicles” by Larry Clark (Carl Fischer Publications)
 Chronicles terms and definitions flashcards
o There are two cards corresponding to each musical symbol: a term
card and a definition card. Terms are written in blue; definitions are
written in black
 Tape
Preparation:
 Have pieces tape ready for use
 Write on the board the following musical symbols from “Chronicles”
o Staccato
o Legato
o Accents
o Down bow
o Up bow
o Circle bow (retake)
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o Crescendo
o Mezzo piano
o Mezzo forte
o Forte
o Fortissimo
Below the row of symbols, create a row in which students will tape the
terms cards.
Create a third row in which students will tape the definitions cards.
Put “Chronicles” parts on students’ music stands.
Procedure:
1) Musical symbols review matching game.
a) Explain to students that they will be performing “Chronicles” with the 5 th
grade orchestra students. Therefore, they will be the leaders. Since the
notes and rhythms will be easy for them, they will be focusing on applying
their knowledge of musical symbols. Note that we will be playing a game
to help us review our knowledge of these musical symbols.
b) Shuffle and hand out index cards with terms and definitions.
i) Instruct students to attach their cards to the board under the
appropriate symbol.
ii) Point out the fact that the blue cards go in the second row and the
black ones go in the third row.
iii) Tell students they can consult with each other if they don’t know the
meaning of a symbol.
iv) Once all cards are on the board, ask students if they think any cards
need to be moved.
2) Application of musical symbols review to the rehearsal of “Chronicles”
a) Tell students that while we begin rehearsing “Chronicles,” we’ll be on the
lookout for musical symbols.
b) Clap beginning to m. 32 of Chronicles
i) Be aware of the symbols; prepare to implement the instructions they
provide.
c) Call a student volunteer to find the first musical symbol used in
“Chronicles,” give a measure number, and read the definition from the
board.
i) Play a short section and implement the instructions provided by this
symbol.
d) Continue to call on students to locate and define symbols. Play several
more short sections with a focus on implementing the instructions
provided by the symbols.
e) Clap m. 33 to end.
i) Focus on accuracy of rhythmic call and response presented in this
section.
f) Play m. 33 to end.
i) Focus on implementation of musical symbols.
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g) Play through whole piece. Remind the students that they will be leading
the 5th graders in applying these musical symbols.
Differentiation of Instruction:
 Using knowledge of students’ readiness, customize the difficulty task of
the musical symbols matching game by giving some students cards with
more obvious definitions.
 Encourage students to help others if they finish placing their cards before
others have completed the activity.