Music Listening Lesson
Brittany Gray Folder #11
Grade Level: 4th
Lesson Goal: Students will learn about “Maple Leaf Rag” composed by Scott Joplin.
Objectives:
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introduce students to ragtime and its greatest composer, Scott Joplin.
Identify the ABACD theme or strain of “Maple Leaf Rag.”
TEKS:
4.1 Perception. The student describes and analyzes musical sound and demonstrates musical artistry.
(C) identify music forms presented aurally such as AB, ABA, and rondo.
4.3 Creative expression/performance. The student reads and writes music notation.
(A) read and write music notation, using a system (letters, numbers, syllables);
Materials:
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You tube video of “Maple Leaf Rag” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAtL7n_-rc
Blue, Red, Yellow, and Purple strips of construction paper
Procedures:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Anticipatory set: How many of you have ever heard of Ragtime? How many of you have ever heard of
Scott Joplin? Explain that Scott Joplin Was the most important figure in ragtime music and is known as the
“King of Ragtime.” Ragtime by definition is a genre of musical composition for the piano, generally in
duple meter and containing a highly syncopated treble lead over a rhythmically steady bass. This gives the
music a jumpy, restless feel that’s makes the listener want to dance. Ragtime was first heard at the Chicago
World’s Fair in 1893. Maple Leaf Rag is known as a “Classic” form. Meaning that there are three to four
sections where each has a different 16-measure theme or melody. Maple Leaf Rag became one of the most
famous piano rag.
Checking for understanding: What is the name of the Composer? What was he known as? What is the
name of his most famous composition? What genre of music did he play? In what year was this genre first
heard and where? What Form is Maple Leaf Rag Played in? What does this music make the listener want to
get up and do?
Listening for the theme: After handing out the colored paper play the You tube recording of ‘Maple Leaf
Rag.” Tell the students that each color represents a different theme within this composition. Have the
students hold up their paper and tell them which theme they will represent. Tell them that throughout the
song they need to hold up their paper when they hear their theme. Explain that they need to listen carefully
because some themes may change slightly. Make sure to let them know that there are a total of 4 themes
within this piece.
1. Blue/light blue: A
A 0.06 First
C 1.52 Trio
2. Red: B
A 0.24 First Repeated
C 1.52 Trio Repeated
3. Yellow: C
B 0.42 Second Theme
D 2.10 4 th Theme
4. Purple: D
A 1.18 First Repeated
D 2.26 4 th Repeated
Checking for understanding: Ask the students if it was hard to decipher when the theme changed. Could
they tell that some of the themes changed slightly? What helped them to know when to raise their paper?
Closure: Have them go to their Math folder to begin working on their pattern worksheets that correlates
with “Maple Leaf Rag.”
Assessment:
Ask questions about the material presented in the anticipatory set (#2)
Determine that students are able to locate their particular theme within the composition(#4)
Determine whether the students had a difficult time hearing when their theme came about.
“Maple
Art
1.Create a Maple Leaf crayon rubbing
2.Make a quilt from crayon rubbings
3.Look at art work from the late 1800’s
Leaf Rag”
Science
1.Research the different types of Maple
trees.
2. Research why autumn leaves change
colors.
3.Do an experiment to see what colors are in
fall leaves.
Math
Language Arts
1.Read books about Ragtime Music
2.Write a class poem about how Ragtime
makes you feel.
1.Create a pattering using maple leafs
2.Have students come up with their own
Syncopated pattern using instruments
3.Ceate a syncopated rhythm out of linking
construction paper together.
3. Vocabulary concerning ragtime
Social Studies
1.Research Scott Joplin
Multi-cultural
2.Write a report over the research
1.Discuss the wide range of cultures that
enjoyed listening to rag
3. Make a timeline of his life to be shared
with the class.
2. Look at how different cultures embrace Fall
around the world.
3. Discuss the diverse culture of New Orleans
A 0.06 First
A 0.24 First Repeated
B 0.42 Second Theme
A 1.18 First Repeated
C 1.52 Trio
C 1.52 Trio Repeated
D 2.10 4th Theme
D 2.26 4th Repeated With Abrupt ending