Music lesson plans for Middle school

These lesson plans are in addition to the Music Toolkit lesson plans.

Jump to:

Each lesson plan listing below includes the target grades, the title, a summary of the activity, and the Arts Toolkit resource used. Click on the title for the full lesson plan.

Primary

K-2
Students will learn an Appalachian folk song and create new songs with AB form.

K-3
Students make and play homemade drums.

K-3
Students communicate through music by creating sounds to accompany a children’s story.

1-4
Students learn about body percussion, play quarter notes and eighth notes, and experience early African-American folk and cultural music.

3-5

• Students complete a guided listening activity
• Complete a KWL Chart (or another type of organizational chart) about Appalachian music and culture. (Add to the L part of the chart throughout the unit)
• Create a flowchart showing the lineage of traditional Appalachian music (Use this flowchart as a note-taking device throughout the unit.)
• Learn the Appalachian folk song, "Billy Boy"
• Participate in Appalachian Party Play games
• Sing various Appalachian folk songs

Intermediate

1-4
Students learn about body percussion, play quarter notes and eighth notes, and experience early African-American folk and cultural music.

• Sing various Appalachian folk songs

4-5
Students identify whether or not a song has an artistic purpose and, in small groups, form arguments for why music has a particular purpose or why it doesn't.
Video: "Grass Dance Song" performed by Dennis Banks

4-5
Students explore and compare/contrast a variety of musical styles.

4-5
Students explore similarities and differences between Native American and American folk music.

4-8
Students will identify and analyze music fundamentals in the performance of Indonesian Gamelan music. Students will learn and perform a brief, modified version of Gamelan music.

4-8
Students will identify and analyze music fundamentals in the performance of Indonesian Gamelan music. Students will learn and perform a brief, modified version of Gamelan music.

5-8
Students listen to, research, and try out traditional styles of playing guitar.

5-8
Students explore various styles of fiddle playing and their connections to different parts of the United States and the world.

Middle

4-8
Students will identify and analyze music fundamentals in the performance of Indonesian Gamelan music. Students will learn and perform a brief, modified version of Gamelan music.

4-8
Students will identify and analyze music fundamentals in the performance of Indonesian Gamelan music. Students will learn and perform a brief, modified version of Gamelan music.

5-8
Students listen to, research, and try out traditional styles of playing guitar.

5-8
Students explore various styles of fiddle playing and their connections to different parts of the United States and the world.

Students learn about the contributions of medieval composer Hildegard of Bingen and about the characteristics of plainchant.

High

9-12
Students explore the evolution of ragtime and swing music.

9-12
Students analyze a piece of jazz music and compose a piece of their own.

9-12
Students learn about the early days of jazz in New Orleans and compare early New Orleans marching bands to contemporary marching bands.