Music History

Artists and Their Music

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Music History
Artists and Their Music
Online Lesson Plan
Classroom Lesson Plan
Classroom Lesson Plan
Online Lesson Plan
Classroom Lesson Plan
Classroom Lesson Plan

Summary

In this lesson, students will actively explore the music of three different artists, singing and/or playing along their songs. To find out some more biographical information, they will do a group research on one musician and present their findings to the class. The students will then engage in a discussion about how the knowledge of artists' biography changes the perception of their music.

 

⏰ Time: 45 min

🎓 Grades: 5-12

🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...

  • Independently research the biographies of musicians;
  • Prepare a presentation on an artist and their music;
  • Describe the musical style of an artist;
  • Understand different musical genres.

💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:

  • Basic notation;
  • Basic rhythm.

💻 Materials:

  • Solfeg.io app best used with Chrome browser
  • Projector or computer and access to WIFI
  • Simple percussion instruments (optional)
  • Simple melodic instruments, for example, metallophones, keyboards etc. (optional)

 

Song suggestions:

 

Inspiration

🕐 5 min - Three favorites

  • Find out what are the favorite singers and bands of the students.
  • Invite the class to choose three different artists they like from the Song library (from the Song suggestions list or any other).

 

Warm-Up

🕐 10 min - Listen

  • Select one of the three songs and listen to it with the class.
  • If they choose, they can sing along, or clap or play on small percussion instruments (e.g. shakers, claves, hand drums) the rhythm lines.
  • Do this for each song: listen and sing/play along!

 

Practice

🕐 15 min - Exercise 1 - Research

  • Split the class into three groups. Each group chooses one from the three previously selected musicians.
  • Ask students to find information about the artist and their music. They can use these websites:
  • Students should try to find some interesting information they didn't know about the artist, as well as learn more about their music. Inform students that they will have to present their findings and include this information in their presentation:
    • 3 fun facts from the artist's biography;
    • A short description of their music and their musical style/genre;
    • 2 photos of the artist, taken in different times.

🕐 10 min - Exercise 2 - Presentation

  • Each group shortly presents to the class what they learned about their artist. They should include in their presentation:
    • 3 fun facts from the artist's biography;
    • A short description of their music and their musical style/genre;
    • 2 photos of the artist, taken in different times.
  • After each presentation, have a short Question & Answer session with the students from the other groups.
    • What more would you like to find out about the musician?

 

Reflection

🕐 5 min - Discussion

  • What's the most surprising thing you learned about the musicians and their music?
  • Has any of the information you heard made you change your mind about the musicians, for example,
    • Do you like any of the musicians more (or less) than you did before the lesson?
    • Would you like to check out their music more?

 

Beyond the Lesson

Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…

  • Exploring the music and the biographies of other artists represented in the Song library.

 

Summary

In this lesson, students will actively explore the music of three different artists, singing and/or playing along their songs. To find out some more biographical information, they will do a group research on one musician and present their findings to the class. The students will then engage in a discussion about how the knowledge of artists' biography changes the perception of their music.

 

⏰ Time: 45 min

🎓 Grades: 5-12

🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...

  • Independently research the biographies of musicians;
  • Prepare a presentation on an artist and their music;
  • Describe the musical style of an artist;
  • Understand different musical genres.

💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:

  • Basic notation;
  • Basic rhythm.

💻 Materials:

  • Solfeg.io app best used with Chrome browser
  • Projector or computer and access to WIFI
  • Simple percussion instruments (optional)
  • Simple melodic instruments, for example, metallophones, keyboards etc. (optional)

 

Song suggestions:

 

Inspiration

🕐 5 min - Three favorites

  • Find out what are the favorite singers and bands of the students.
  • Invite the class to choose three different artists they like from the Song library (from the Song suggestions list or any other).

 

Warm-Up

🕐 10 min - Listen

  • Select one of the three songs and listen to it with the class.
  • If they choose, they can sing along, or clap or play on small percussion instruments (e.g. shakers, claves, hand drums) the rhythm lines.
  • Do this for each song: listen and sing/play along!

 

Practice

🕐 15 min - Exercise 1 - Research

  • Split the class into three groups. Each group chooses one from the three previously selected musicians.
  • Ask students to find information about the artist and their music. They can use these websites:
  • Students should try to find some interesting information they didn't know about the artist, as well as learn more about their music. Inform students that they will have to present their findings and include this information in their presentation:
    • 3 fun facts from the artist's biography;
    • A short description of their music and their musical style/genre;
    • 2 photos of the artist, taken in different times.

🕐 10 min - Exercise 2 - Presentation

  • Each group shortly presents to the class what they learned about their artist. They should include in their presentation:
    • 3 fun facts from the artist's biography;
    • A short description of their music and their musical style/genre;
    • 2 photos of the artist, taken in different times.
  • After each presentation, have a short Question & Answer session with the students from the other groups.
    • What more would you like to find out about the musician?

 

Reflection

🕐 5 min - Discussion

  • What's the most surprising thing you learned about the musicians and their music?
  • Has any of the information you heard made you change your mind about the musicians, for example,
    • Do you like any of the musicians more (or less) than you did before the lesson?
    • Would you like to check out their music more?

 

Beyond the Lesson

Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…

  • Exploring the music and the biographies of other artists represented in the Song library.

 

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