ALEX Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

The teacher will introduce the improvisation lesson by using a poem. The students will sing a response after the teacher sings a question. The students will sing a conversation with a group or partner.

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 1 :

1 ) Conduct experiments to provide evidence that vibrations of matter can create sound (e.g., striking a tuning fork, plucking a guitar string) and sound can make matter vibrate (e.g., holding a piece of paper near a sound system speaker, touching your throat while speaking).

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

Students will explore sounds using rulers to simulate a barred instrument. Students will experiment with the vibration of sounds by pulling up on the rulers to make them vibrate and create sounds. They will change the ruler's length to create different pitches. Finally, students will work with a partner to create a melody on their barred instrument.

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 3 :

3) Demonstrate and discuss personal reasons for selecting musical ideas that represent expressive intent.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (0) 3 :

3) Demonstrate and choose favorite musical ideas.

In order to create music to the story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Bill Martin, Jr., the students will:

• Sing a call and response
• Play a steady beat
• Create rhythms on rhythm instruments

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 1 :

1 ) Conduct experiments to provide evidence that vibrations of matter can create sound (e.g., striking a tuning fork, plucking a guitar string) and sound can make matter vibrate (e.g., holding a piece of paper near a sound system speaker, touching your throat while speaking).

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

Students will explore sounds using plastic cups and rubber bands to simulate a stringed instrument. Students will experiment with the vibration of sounds by plucking the bands and listening to the sounds. They will change the string’s tension and gauge to create different pitches. Finally, students will work with a partner to create a melody on their stringed instrument.

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 3 :

3) Demonstrate and choose favorite musical ideas.

[ARTS] MUS (0) 6 :

6) Demonstrate a final version of personal musical ideas to peers.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 13 :

13) Perform music for a specific purpose with expression.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 2 :

2) Generate musical patterns and ideas within the context of a given tonality and meter.

Example: Improvise simple harmonic and rhythmic accompaniments within specified guidelines and duple and triple meter.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 13 :

13) Perform music for a specific purpose with expression and technical accuracy.

In this lesson plan, Theresa Cocci uses her book "Harry's Horrible Hair" to guide students in identifying feelings and thoughts, expressing their own feelings and emotions through movement, and discussing empathy. They then explore and create musical responses using speech, rhythm, and instruments. In doing so, this lesson connects SEL competencies and literature to musical creation. You will need access to the book "Harry's Horrible Hair", various suggested musical repertoire, emoji visuals, Orff instruments, and a whiteboard. Flashcards for the lesson are provided in the PDF. The lesson is in two parts. In the first lesson, students respond to questions about the story and play a freeze game using the suggested repertoire and emoji cards. In the second lesson, students learn a song about Harry and create their own musical answers to the question using words and instruments. Students then perform their work as Rondo. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 2 :

2) Generate musical patterns and ideas within the context of a given tonality and meter.

Example: Improvise simple harmonic and rhythmic accompaniments within specified guidelines and duple and triple meter.

Students will define dynamic markings pianissimo, piano, forte, and fortissimo. They will compile a list of words and instrument sounds that reflect a season. They will compose a four-measure piece of music for their assigned season. They will perform their piece in a rondo with the other seasons. They will listen to Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and identify each season represented by the music. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas and describe connection to specific purpose and context.

Example: Explore instrumental/vocal timbres to create a sound carpet to accompany the story, "The Three Little Pigs.

" [ARTS] MUS (4) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social and cultural purposes and contexts.

Example: Use a variety of found, pitched, and rhythmic instruments to orchestrate primary components of a story.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social, cultural, and historical purposes and contexts.

Example: Improvise using culture-appropriate instruments to create a sound carpet for a Native American folk tale.

The article explains how music is a language.  The author compares spoken language to musical language.  Improvisation is important to building musical language.    

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas and describe connection to specific purpose and context.

Example: Explore instrumental/vocal timbres to create a sound carpet to accompany the story, "The Three Little Pigs.

" [ARTS] MUS (4) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social and cultural purposes and contexts.

Example: Use a variety of found, pitched, and rhythmic instruments to orchestrate primary components of a story.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social, cultural, and historical purposes and contexts.

Example: Improvise using culture-appropriate instruments to create a sound carpet for a Native American folk tale.

This article includes the components of improvisation - timing, choice, and framework.  It includes examples of how to implement each component.  This article is for improvising words only.  

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas and describe connection to specific purpose and context.

Example: Explore instrumental/vocal timbres to create a sound carpet to accompany the story, "The Three Little Pigs.

" [ARTS] MUS (4) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social and cultural purposes and contexts.

Example: Use a variety of found, pitched, and rhythmic instruments to orchestrate primary components of a story.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social, cultural, and historical purposes and contexts.

Example: Improvise using culture-appropriate instruments to create a sound carpet for a Native American folk tale.

This article explores musical improvisation using movement, vocal exploration, the four voices, and comparatives.  There are examples of using a slide whistle, scarves, paintbrushes, and voice.   

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas and describe connection to specific purpose and context.

Example: Explore instrumental/vocal timbres to create a sound carpet to accompany the story, "The Three Little Pigs.

" [ARTS] MUS (4) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social and cultural purposes and contexts.

Example: Use a variety of found, pitched, and rhythmic instruments to orchestrate primary components of a story.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social, cultural, and historical purposes and contexts.

Example: Improvise using culture-appropriate instruments to create a sound carpet for a Native American folk tale.

This article explores improvisation in songs and stories.  It includes two song activities and two for books.  

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas and describe connection to specific purpose and context.

Example: Explore instrumental/vocal timbres to create a sound carpet to accompany the story, "The Three Little Pigs.

" [ARTS] MUS (4) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social and cultural purposes and contexts.

Example: Use a variety of found, pitched, and rhythmic instruments to orchestrate primary components of a story.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social, cultural, and historical purposes and contexts.

Example: Improvise using culture-appropriate instruments to create a sound carpet for a Native American folk tale.

This article explains the process of pre-rhythm and pre-melodic improvisation.  There are two activities for each of the elements.  

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas and describe connection to specific purpose and context.

Example: Explore instrumental/vocal timbres to create a sound carpet to accompany the story, "The Three Little Pigs.

" [ARTS] MUS (4) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social and cultural purposes and contexts.

Example: Use a variety of found, pitched, and rhythmic instruments to orchestrate primary components of a story.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social, cultural, and historical purposes and contexts.

Example: Improvise using culture-appropriate instruments to create a sound carpet for a Native American folk tale.

This article focuses on improvisation through question and answer.  Students will improvise both melodically and rhythmically.  The article includes guidelines on how to create questions and answers in music.  

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas and describe connection to specific purpose and context.

Example: Explore instrumental/vocal timbres to create a sound carpet to accompany the story, "The Three Little Pigs.

" [ARTS] MUS (4) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social and cultural purposes and contexts.

Example: Use a variety of found, pitched, and rhythmic instruments to orchestrate primary components of a story.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social, cultural, and historical purposes and contexts.

Example: Improvise using culture-appropriate instruments to create a sound carpet for a Native American folk tale.

This article focuses on rhythm and melody improvisation games.  It includes three rhythm games and one melody game for improvisation. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas and describe connection to specific purpose and context.

Example: Explore instrumental/vocal timbres to create a sound carpet to accompany the story, "The Three Little Pigs.

" [ARTS] MUS (4) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social and cultural purposes and contexts.

Example: Use a variety of found, pitched, and rhythmic instruments to orchestrate primary components of a story.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 1 :

1) Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain connection to specific social, cultural, and historical purposes and contexts.

Example: Improvise using culture-appropriate instruments to create a sound carpet for a Native American folk tale.

This article focuses on improvising with rhythm and melody simultaneously.  It includes four activities, including one to improvise with harmony. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 1 :

1) Explore and experience music concepts.

Example: Explore musical sources freely, using found sounds, electronic sounds, or sounds from voice or instruments found in classroom, remembering to use both sound and silence.

[ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 2 :

2) Generate musical patterns and ideas within the context of a given tonality and meter.

Example: Improvise simple harmonic and rhythmic accompaniments within specified guidelines and duple and triple meter.

Students will demonstrate proper audience etiquette while listening to a story and music. They will discuss Evelyn Glennie and how her deafness might have affected her ability to make music. They will listen to her music while holding a balloon and feel the vibrations. They will make a percussion instrument from household objects. They will compose a rhythm pattern and play it for the class. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] DAN (0) 20 :

20) Express something of interest within a work of art (visual, music, theatre, etc.) through movement.

Example: Use texture in a painting to inspire movement quality.

[ARTS] DAN (1) 15 :

15) Identify a movement or movement phrase that repeats to make a pattern within a dance.

[ARTS] DAN (2) 16 :

16) Observe or perform dance movements from a specific genre or culture and describe or demonstrate the movements.

[ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 3 :

3) Demonstrate and explain personal reasons for selecting patterns and ideas for music that represent expressive intent.

[ARTS] VISA (0) 12 :

12) Interpret art by identifying subject matter and describing relevant details.

Example: Answer questions such as, "What do you see?" or "How does this art make you feel?"

[ARTS] VISA (1) 10 :

10) Select and describe works of art that illustrate daily life experiences.

[ARTS] VISA (2) 15 :

15) Compare and contrast cultural uses of artwork from different times and places.

Example: Australian Aboriginal dot paintings and Plains Indians pictographs.

Students will discuss key details from the book Ten Little Rabbits by Virginia Grossman.  They will compare Navajo blankets to the colors and patterns in the book.  They will perform movements following a pattern from the book.  Students will collaborate to create a movement pattern that relates to weaving.  

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 1 :

1) Explore and experience music concepts.

Example: Explore musical sources freely, using found sounds, electronic sounds, or sounds from voice or instruments found in classroom, remembering to use both sound and silence.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (2) 4 :

4) Use iconic or standard notation and/or recording technology to combine, sequence, and document personal musical ideas.

[ARTS] MUS (3) 4 :

4) Use standard and/or iconic notation and/or recording technology to document personal rhythmic and melodic musical ideas.

[ARTS] MUS (4) 4 :

4) Use standard and/or iconic notation and/or recording technology to document personal rhythmic, melodic, and simple harmonic musical ideas.

[ARTS] MUS (5) 4 :

4) Use standard and/or iconic notation and/or recording technology to document personal rhythmic, melodic, and two-chord harmonic musical ideas.

Students will draw different shapes on the screen.  The images will be transferred to sound by the website. This activity is inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, an artist who compared painting to making music.  

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

Students will have sung conversations with the teacher.  The teacher will sing a question and students will improvise a sung answer.  Demonstration videos are provided. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 4 :

4) Organize personal musical ideas using iconic notation and/or recording technology.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 6 :

6) Convey expressive intent for a specific purpose by presenting a final version of personal musical ideas to peers or informal audience.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 9 :

9) Read and perform rhythmic patterns using iconic or standard notation.

Students will echo clap rhythm patterns including quarter notes, quarter rests and paired eighth notes. Students will compose four-beat rhythm patterns and perform them for the class. Demonstration videos are provided. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

Students will trace a melodic contour with their finger as they sing the high and low sounds. Students will create their own melodic shape using yarn and perform the composition for the class. A video demonstration is provided. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (0) 2 :

2) Generate musical ideas.

Example: Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations on given simple melodies.

[ARTS] MUS (0) 4 :

4) Organize personal musical ideas using iconic notation and/or recording technology, with guidance.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 1 :

1) Create musical ideas for a specific purpose.

Example: Improvise four-beat patterns in question and answer form.

[ARTS] MUS (1) 4 :

4) Organize personal musical ideas using iconic notation and/or recording technology.

Students will compose rhythms using long and short sounds. Students will use iconic notation to notate their rhythm pattern. Students can read their pattern, play the pattern on an instrument, or use body percussion.  A worksheet is provided for students to notate their composition. A video is provided to demonstrate how to teach the activity.