Lesson Plan for Blue Valley North Music Theory

Student Teacher: Meredith Casey

Cooperating Teacher: Daniel Freeman
3/2/21: 1:25-2:40pm

Materials of Instruction:
● Flat.io
● Music of the World Prezi (share w/ Ss)
● Composition prompt assignment of Flat.io/Canvas
● Clave Rhythms info packet

Lesson Sequence: Rhythm & Dance of Clave Patterns (Role of Ostinato)

Entry Activity/Transition: What is your favorite style of music (disco, swing, latin jazz, etc.)

Activity #1 Objective: Music Theory students will play and compose rhythms using Clave
and Casacara using music from Cuba.
1. Follow along recordings in the above info packet
a. Listening excerpts
i. Pat a beat, what instruments do you hear?
ii. Do you hear instruments repeating themselves?
iii. Clap this rhythm with me. (show Ss clave rhythm, play it on hand
drums/clave from percussion section)
b. Music comes from Cuba (show on map, give background info)
c. 2-step dance pattern plus the clave rhythms (zoom people participate too!)
d. Dance + play with the recording
2. Repeat step one for Cascara rhythms (follow recordings in above packet)
3. Compose own melodies for the second half of class
a. Must use an ostinato (clave, cascara, or 6/8 bell pattern)
b. Pick a prompt! (Student-centered)

Assessment: Could the students:

❏ Aurally identify rhythms from recordings
❏ Perform clave, cascara, and 6/8 patterns using body percussion or instruments
❏ Layer two different rhythm patterns together
❏ Identify similarities and differences between the 3 rhythm patterns
❏ Compose a short melody that includes an ostinato

Transition/Closure: We just learned a vital compositional technique (ostinato)! What are other
music theory strategies you’d like to explore?

Scan for World Music Prezi: