[Updated July 2018 – bonus walkthrough video added below]
Free Music Technology Lesson Plans
This is the first of a new ongoing series of more “formal” lesson plans that suggest simple ways to incorporate technology into music lessons. I’m aiming to map each lesson to the US and Australian national standards for music education (UK coming soon too!).
I’d love to know what you think about that idea: is it useful for you? What types of things would you like to see? Leave a comment below letting me know what you think.
Lesson: Rap My Name – I Like That
This lesson plan works well with grade 2-8 and can be adapted in many ways. It’s a good activity for the beginning of the year when you’re trying to learn new students’ names!
Students will write a 4-measure name rap within the specified structure and create a rhythmic backing to accompany themselves.
Music Education Standards
- 1. Singing alone and with others, a varied repertoire
- 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines
- 4.3 Create, perform and record compositions by selecting and organising sounds, silence, tempo and volume
- 6.3 Rehearse and perform music, including music they have composed, by improvising, sourcing and arranging ideas and making decisions to engage an audience
- 8.2 Develop musical ideas, such as mood, by improvising, combining and manipulating the elements of music
- 8.5 Perform and present a range of music, using techniques and expression appropriate to style
New Zealand Curriculum Level 4
- DI Developing Ideas in Music – students will use musical elements, instruments and technologies to improvise and compose simple musical pieces
- CI Communicating and Interpreting in Music – students will prepare, rehearse, present and evaluate brief music performances
- UC Understanding Music In Context – Students will identify and investigate characteristics of music associated with particular contexts, purposes and styles in past and present cultures
- Computer, Chromebook, iPad or other tablet device
- Music software, app or website that allows you to create a rhythmic accompaniment
- Rap structure template (below)
- Smartphone, iPad, or other tablet to video-record performances (optional)
Speaking lyrics in time to a beat
Part 1: Preparation
As a group, keep a steady beat using body percussion. Practice saying the name rap over the steady beat – use the samples below or ask students to make up their own.
Part 2: Write the rap
Ask students to write a rap using their own name, based on the structure provided below. They can work individually or in pairs (one student can keep a steady beat while the other practices saying their name rap)
Tempo 80-90 BPM
Hey I’m ________ and I like to ___________
(in second line, say something about thing you like. The final word in this line should rhyme with the end of line 1)
I like that
Oh yeah, I like that