Holden Berlin

November 29th
Muse 355
Circles of Stones Lesson Plan
November 29, 2016

National Standards Addressed:

7.1 Performing Music: Singing alone and with others
7.2 Performing Music: Playing an instrument alone and with others
7.6 Responding to Music: Listening to, Analyzing and Describing Music
7.9 Responding Music: Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture
Classroom Goals:
1. Students will play measures 1 -12 in Circles of Stones with reasonable accuracy in notes
in rhythm
2. Students will be able to identify which sections have melody during specific parts of the
music rehearsed
3. Students will begin to understand Phrase Elision. They will be able to define it and
understand how it is used in Circles of Stones
Materials: Baton, Tuner, Metronome, Developing Band Book no.7, Recording of Circles of
Stones, Piano
Procedure
1. Introduction
a. Has anyone seen Stonehenge? Through pictures or in person?
b. Describe Stonehenge: Built in 2500BCE, in England, as a religious site. Multiple
stone circles.
2. Warm up
a. Instructor prepares the students in the key of Eb major by playing an Eb Chord
progression
b. Instructor will lead echo patterns, on solfege, in the key of Eb
i. Falling down to C minor
ii. Triad
iii. Alto Sax Solo
c. Transitioning to instruments
i. Full scale
ii. Triads / Open intervals (Mainly 5ths; see measure two of Circles of
Stones)
1. Pass triads and scale degrees around the ensemble
a. Introduce Elision
iii. Alto Sax solo taught to all parts
 Holden Berlin
November 29th
Muse 355

3. Circles of Stones Part I

a. Listen to Circles of Stones measure 1- 12
b. Question students on the music
i. What is the time signature? Duple or Triple?
ii. Do some parts seem familiar?
iii. What voice has the solo that we learned?
iv. Describe the music?
c. Pass out the Circles of Stones parts to the students
i. Review the questions above
4. Circles of Stones Part II
a. Low brass/WWs: look at measure 11, finger and air the notes for a second while
the rest of the ensemble works on passing the melody along
b. The rest of the ensemble will look at measure 6 10
i. The passing of the eighth note melody from section to section, starting
with the Alto and Tenor.
1. Students only play the bars that they have eighth notes. They rest
on every bar.
ii. Review the round warm up strategy, PASS the melody around the
ensemble. Elision
iii. Play the 4 measures as written
c. Check on the Low Brass. Listen to measure 12
i. Give feedback
5. Circles of Stones Part III
a. Look at the top of the music
i. Review the Alto sax solo solfege in the beginning and have the entire
ensemble play it
1. Make sure it can be heard by everyone in the ensemble while they
are playing
ii. Play measures 1-6
1. Have the brass play with the Alto sax first while the flutes and
clarinets play the parts as written.
2. Repeat without brass
b. Play Measure 1- 10 as written
i. Stress that ensemble needs to be listening for the eighth note melody
passed throughout the ensemble.
6. Circles of Stones Part IV
a. Play Bars 11-12
b. Play entire opening measures 1-12
i. Feedback
ii. Address sections as needed.

7. Assessment
a. In Circles of Stones where can we find Elision?
b. How do you know?
 Holden Berlin
November 29th
Muse 355