General Music Technology Lesson Plan (6/7/8)

Lesson Title: Chrome Labs Song Maker Assignment Unit Title: Intro to Composition

Student Materials: Laptop or tablet, internet connection

Teacher Materials: Laptop or tablet, internet connection, projector, speakers, white board or smart board to write out key signatures and discussion points
(could also be done in a PowerPoint, or given in a packet to the students).

Standards Objectives (including at least one related to academic Assessment (Formative and/or Summative)
language)
2CE (6th Grade) Identify instruments used in Western and world music Formative: establishment of what instruments are in
ensembles. which families
Summative: compositional product and the ability to
explain what instruments were used and what
families they belong to.
4CE (7th Grade) Identify key signatures of major scales. Formative: review how key signatures are created
Summative: recreation of the key signature needed
for the key used in their final compositional product.
5CE (8th Grade) Identify and describe non-performing careers in music. Formative: brainstorm different ideas
Summative: connect those brainstormed ideas to the
composition in some way. Ie: composer write, sound
engineer could mix an electronic composition, etc.
6CE (8th Grade) Describe ways that technology and the media arts are used to Formative: discuss technology in music as well as
create perform and listen to music. how it has evolved.
Summative: acknowledge this influence in reflecting
on final compositional product.

Prerequisite Knowledge
Prerequisite knowledge needed: General understanding of key signatures of major scales (C, G, F, D, Bflat). Different instrument families,
as well as their cultural and musical implications.
 Prerequisite skills needed: Basic technology usage (on tablet, laptop, or desktop)

Academic Language
Vocabulary-
List the essential vocabulary words used in the lesson even if it was introduced previously.
 Flats & sharps
 Music composition
 Scale
 Arpeggio
 Meter
 Rhythm
 Measure
 tempo     
 range
 octave          

Lesson Procedures
Lesson Introduction & Lesson Procedures: (Provide a detailed list of steps that you will take to implement this lesson. Think about
opportunities for guided practice, independent practice, modeling, checking for understanding, etc.)

1. Introduction to Chrome Music Labs.

a. Specific instruction for the Song Maker Workshop.
2. In introducing the features of the website, review some necessary prerequisite knowledge.
a. Different instrument families that can be used.
b. Key, meter, and length of piece in the side bar.
3. Demonstrate a short simple composition.
 a. Shorter than the product the students will eventually yield, but enough of a demonstration to help visual learners see how the website works.
b. This could even be a group activity, the class deciding as a whole what melodies and harmonies will be used.
4. Explain how to save and share links to projects for eventual submission.
5. Students are then given time to work on their own compositions within the constraints given in the lesson. And ideally submit them by the end of a one- or
two-day period.
a. Student constraints: 12-16 measures/bars of composition, in one of the major scales discussed (C, F, G, D, B-flat) in any octave. Additional drums not
necessary but allowed if desired.

Closure: Students that wish for their projects to be shared can play them in front of the class. There is room for discussion for instrument choices, as well
as some of the professional implications of this project (see standard 5CE 8 th grade).

Homework/Extension Activities:

n/a