Compose Arrange Record Lesson

Write a four-bar composition with proper harmonic, melodic, voice-leading considerations. Arrange it for instruments (including transpositions), perform it, and then sync the audio.

12 Bar Blues Composition

Explain, identify and apply the 12-bar blues chord sequence. Create a melody that fits over the 12-bar blues chord sequence.

Beginning Band 5-Note Melody Composition

Create a four measure melody using the first five notes the have learned.

Orchestra Composition in D

Students will demonstrate their understanding of quarter notes and half notes both in composition and on their instruments. Then they will show their ability to identify the notes in the D Major scale both in their composition and on their instruments. Finally, students will create a simple 8 bar melody appropriate for their instrument.

F Natural for Orchestra

Students will mark fingerings, record an exercise, and compose their own exercise using F natural and F sharp on the D string in 1st position.

Suspensions Lesson

In this lesson students will identify preparation, suspension, and resolution parts of different suspensions. Then students can label different kinds of suspensions (9-8, 7-6, 4-3, 2-3) with Roman numeral analysis and compose suspensions in a chorale setting.

Rhythm Round Up

Students will practice and improve reading different types of notes.
Whole Notes, whole rests
half notes, half rests,
quarter notes, quarter rests and
eighth notes and eighth rests.
This worksheet can be used with large or small groups. Perfect for a warm up or for reinforcing difficult rhythms and counting.

Note Name Practice, Beginning Strings

Beginning Strings students will work on writing note names under each note and figuring out the names of some familiar folk songs.
Students begin by filling in note names, students can work alone or in small groups.
Once finished with note names, students can practice playing the songs to see if they recognize the songs.
This lesson is perfect right after students have learned the notes in their D Major scale.

This lesson reinforces the notes on the D and A string (G string for basses) and teaches students some beginner folk songs.

Answers to Worksheet
1. Mary Had a Little Lamb or Rolling Along
2. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
3. Hot Cross Buns
4. Jingle Bells
5. Old MacDonald

String Bowing Workout

A warm up for intermediate string ensembles wishing to work on their bowing styles.
This lesson allows all instruments to practice slurs, staccato, etc, while focusing on the D Major scale.

This lesson is perfect for intermediate strings who wish to work on bowing styles as an ensemble.
Students can work on intonation and uniformity playing as an ensemble.
Can be used in large music classroom or small group instruction.
Can be played together or individually.
Can also be used in small group or one on one lessons.

Evil Songs, F Natural Practice

This lesson was designed to help beginning string players practice F natural fingering on their D string.
This exercise uses familiar songs and makes them minor or “evil” by having students change one finger.
This exercise can be played as a large group or as a solo. When practiced as a group students will enjoy the fun names and will be able to tell the difference between traditional versions of these songs and the evil versions of these songs.
Can be used as a daily warm up or exercise for string ensembles to practice alternate fingerings. Great for Halloween time also.