Class Musical Arrangement
Grade Level: Target Concept: National Standards: Elementary  Musical form  Singing, playing instruments, composing and arranging, reading and notating  Procedure: Ultimately, you will teach the class three musical selections based around a common theme. Two should be songs with tonebar instrument accompaniment and the other a rhythmic “soundscape” (with handheld percussion instruments) that depicts the theme. For example, using a “Train” theme, you might first teach the short song “Page’s Train” and accompanimental ostinato patterns:   Also fitting in the “Train” theme, the other song you teach might be  “Down By the Station” (with ostinato patterns like above). You may choose to teach only the first half of it, especially with younger students. Then teach a rhythmic “soundscape.” For the “Train” theme, this could simply be a repeated whole-note rhythm on a bass instrument and repeated quarter-notes on shakers of some kind. Students could make it more train-like by starting slow and soft then getting faster and louder (like a train leaving the station), as well as the opposite (like a train stopping). On the board, draw three symbols to represent the three musical selections the students have learned. If desired, these can be labeled as A, B, and C sections. Guide students in arranging the sections of music into an overall piece. Assign about one-third of the class to perform each of the three sections and rehearse the arrangement. You may also supplement the music with some simple dancing or nonverbal acting by a few students. Perform the arrangement for a small audience, perhaps another class of students or some teachers and administrators.