music appreciation

Music Appreciation – Rock ‘n’ Roll

Dear Sis,

This is the tenth and final part in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Rock & Roll

Week Thirty-Three

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Rock ‘n’ Roll is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Listen to Sample One: “Strange Things Happening Everyday” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe (gospel/early rock ‘n’ roll)

Listen to Sample Two: “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley (rockability/rock ‘n’ roll)

Watch the Biography of Elvis Presley video.

Week Thirty-Four

Approximately 15 minutes

Read “ROCK ‘N’ ROLL” history text.

Watch the History of Rock ‘n’ Roll video. 

Week Thirty-Five

Approximately 10 minutes

Listen to Sample Three: “Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry (rock ‘n’ roll)

Listen to Sample Four: “Paperback Writer” by The Beatles (pop rock)

Week Thirty-Six

Approximately 15 minutes

Listen to Sample Five: “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix (classic/psychedelic rock)

Listen to Sample Six: “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions” by Queen (classic/arena rock)

Read “Music is YOU!”. 

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section.

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Music Appreciation – Rhythm & Blues

Dear Sis, 

This is the ninth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Rhythm & Blues

Week Thirty-One

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Rhythm & Blues is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Listen to Sample One: “Monday Morning Blues” by Mississippi John Hurt (Delta Blues)

Listen to Sample Two: “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown (R&B/Funk/Soul)

Listen to Sample Three: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin (R&B/Soul)

Week Thirty-Two

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “RHYTHM & BLUES” history text.

Listen to Sample Four: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” by Stevie Wonder (R&B/Soul)

Listen to Sample Five: “Escapade” by Janet Jackson (R&B/Pop)

Listen to Sample Six: “Halo” by Beyonce (R&B/Pop)

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the tenth installment: Rock (Weeks 33-36).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Music Appreciation – Jazz

Dear Sis, 

This is the sixth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Jazz Music

Week Twenty

Approximately 15 minutes

Read playful narration “Jazz is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Watch The History of Jazz video.

Listen to Sample One: “Livery Stable Blues” by Dixieland Jazz Band (Dixieland jazz)

Listen to Sample Two: “Jeepers Creepers” by Louis Armstrong (big band)




Week Twenty-One

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “Jazz” history text.

Listen to Sample Three: “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” by Ella Fitzgerald (swing)

Watch The Use of Instruments in Jazz.

Week Twenty-Two

Approximately 20 minutes

Watch The History of Bebop Jazz. 

Listen to Sample Four: “Salt Peanuts” by The Quintet: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach (bebop)

Week Twenty-Three

Approximately 20 minutes

Listen to Sample Five: “Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (cool jazz)

Listen to Sample Six: “So What” by Miles Davis (modal jazz)




Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the seventh installment: Latin (Weeks 23-26).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Music Appreciation – Hip Hop

Dear Sis, 

This is the fifth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Hip Hop Music

A note for parents: Much of the hip hop world is not fit for our most precious learners, but I hope this serves as a family friendly sampling.

Week Eighteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Hip Hop is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote.

Listen to Sample One: “Super Rappin’ No. 2” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Listen to Sample Two: “The Home of Hip Hop” by Grandmixer D.ST.

Listen to Sample Three: “Me, Myself, and I” by De La Soul

Week Nineteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “HIP HOP” history text.

Watch “The Birth of Hip Hop” video.

Listen to Sample Four: “I Missed the Bus” by Kris Kross

Listen to Sample Five: “Don’t Sweat the Technique” by Eric B. & Rakin

Listen to Sample Six: “ABC’s” by Sugarhill Gang




Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the sixth installment: Jazz (Weeks 20-22).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Music Appreciation – Heavy Metal

Dear Sis, 

This is the fourth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Heavy Metal Music

A note for parents: Much of the heavy metal scene is not fit for our most precious learners, but I hope this serves as a family friendly sampling.

Week Fourteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Heavy Metal is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote.

Listen to Sample One: “Space Trucking” by Deep Purple

Listen to Sample Two: “Back Street Kids” by Black Sabbath

Listen to Sample Three: “Godzilla” by Blue Oyster Cult

Week Fifteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “HEAVY METAL” history text.

Listen to The “History of Metal” with Andrea Boma Boccarusso

Week Sixteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read about the “INSTRUMENTS” used in this genre.

Listen to Sample Four: “Live to Rock (Rock to Live)” by Dokken

Listen to Sample Five: “Can’t Live Without You” by Scorpions

Listen to Sample Six: “Black Star” by Yngwie Malmsteen




Week Seventeen

Approximately 20 minutes

When heavy metal and classical music converge, it is a new twist on both genres. Music always has a way of sneaking out of any box we try to put it in!

Listen to our Classical to Heavy Metal samples:

Discuss with your learner the similarities and differences of each version of “Winter.”

Listen to our Heavy Metal to Classical samples:

Discuss with your learner the similarities and differences of each version of “Bring Me to Life.” 

Optional Project: Help your learner find a cover of one of their favorite songs that is in a completely different genre. 




Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the fifth installment: Hip Hop (Weeks 18-19).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Music Appreciation – Electronica

Dear Sis, 

This is the third of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Electronica Music

Week Eleven

Approximately 35 minutes

Read playful narration “Electronica is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the scat in a musical way. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • Emerging readers can try to sound it out. Sometimes its fun to read non-sense!
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can say it fastest or with the best musical performance, by family vote.

Watch our “Early Electronic Instruments” Playlist:

Week Twelve

Approximately 30 minutes

Read about “ELECTRONICA” music text. 

Watch our “Early Recording and Sampling” Playlist:

Listen to Sample One: “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer (1977)

Week Thirteen

Approximately 30 minutes

Listen to Sample Two: “Pocket Calculator” by Kraftwerk (1981)

Listen to Sample Three: “An Ending (Ascent)” by Brian Eno (1983)

Listen to Sample Four: “Your Loving Arms (Club Mix)” by Tiesto feat. Karen Overton (2005)

Listen to Sample Five: “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay (2014)

Listen to Sample Six: “See the End” by Above & Beyond and Seven Lions feat. Opposite the Other (2019)




Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the fourth installment: Heavy Metal (Weeks 14-17).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Music Appreciation – Country

Dear Sis,

This is the second of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Country Music

Week Seven

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Country is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote.

Listen to our “Appalachian folk” aka. Birth of Country Music Playlist (1920s):

Week Eight

Approximately 30 minutes

Read about “COUNTRY” music text.

Watch the videos in our Instruments in Country Music Playlist:

Listen to Sample One: “Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams

Listen to Sample Two: “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash




Week Nine

Approximately 20 minutes

Listen to Sample Three: “All I Have to Offer You Is Me” by Charlie Pride

Listen to our African Americans in Country Music Playlist: 

Week Ten

Approximately 25 minutes

Listen to our Women in Country Music Playlist:

Listen to Sample Five: “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson

Listen to Sample Six: “Big Ol’ Truck” by Toby Keith

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the third installment: Electronica (Weeks 11-13).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Music Appreciation – Classical

Dear Sis,

This is the first of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Classical Music

Week One

Approximately 30 minutes

Read playful narration “CLASSICAL is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the scat in a musical way. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • Emerging readers can try to sound it out. Sometimes its fun to read non-sense!
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can say it fastest or with the best musical performance, by family vote.

Listen to Sample One: “Water Music, Suite no. 1 in F: Overture” by George Frideric Handel

  • I’ve included the entire suite. See if your kiddos can recognize when a movement ends and a new one begins. 
  • You don’t have to watch the videos for listening samples! The audio can be played during a car ride, meal, or quite play time.




Week Two

Approximately 30 minutes

Read about “CLASSICAL” music text.

Play our Solo to Symphony board game. Instructions for play are in the PDF.

  • Print the game cards on card stock. Laminate for durability, if desired. If you do not have the ability to print two sided, print only the card fronts.

Listen to Sample Two: “Cello Suite no. 1 in G Major: Prelude” by Johann Sebastian Bach

Week Three

Approximately 45 minutes

Watch an Introduction to String Orchestra Instruments and The Fountain by Marcel Lucien Gradjany.

  • Introduce violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp

Listen to Sample Three: “Piano Concerto no. 21 in C Major: Andante” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Week Four

Approximately 30 minutes

Watch to The Woodwind Family.

  • Introduce the piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone. 

Practice instrument identification and play our String & Woodwind MEMORY game.

  • Print the game cards on card stock. Laminate for durability, if desired. If you do not have the ability to print double sided, print only the card fronts.

Listen to Sample Four: “Symphony no. 5 in C Minor: Allegro con bio” by Ludwig van Beethoven




Week Five

Approximately 30 minutes

Watch to Brass Instruments in the Orchestra.

  • Introduce the french horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.

Play our Orchestra Fishing game. Instructions for play are in the PDF.

  • Print the game cards on card stock. Laminate for durability, if desired. If you do not have the ability to print double sided, print only the card fronts.

Listen to Sample Five: “Waltz in C-sharp Minor, op. 64: no. 2” by Frederic Chopin

Week Six

Approximately 40 minutes

Watch Percussion Instruments and The Solo Timpanist, Etude 1. 

  • Introduce vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel (orchestral bells), bass drum, tom-tom, snare drum, cymbals, triangle, crotales, tambourine, timpani.

Listen to Sample Six: “Appalachian Spring: II. Allegro” by Aaron Copland

Watch Guess the Orchestral Instrument: 20 Instrument Sound Quiz.

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the second installment: Country Music (Weeks 7-10).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b