Musical Notation Project

Musical notation can be daunting and difficult for many students, but this can be avoided by
teaching through games and activities so that younger students can enjoy the learning process.
This is also a way to get these younger students up, moving around, and interacting with their
classmates!

I would start this activity talking about the different kinds of music notes such as quarter notes,
half notes, whole notes, and eighth notes. For this activity this would be where I begin!

Goals/Foci: 

o I can show improvisation through movement/dancing to this song.

o I can work together with my classmates.

Overview of Activity:

1. First, have the students stand in a spread

out circle and have them copy my
movements to grab their attention.
2. A whole note= one big step counting to 4, a
half note= walking slowly counting to 2, a
quarter note= marching, and an eighth
note= tiny little steps.
3. To move the lesson forward, the instructor
will lead movements by now writing the
notation on the board, then doing that
movement to allow students to see what
this movement represents.
4. After this, have the students stand in a
circle and the instructor will write a pattern
on the board.
5. Keeping a beat, perform the pattern with
the students! This is a perfect way to
incorporate kinesthetic learning to allow
students to solidify what these music notes
feel like. Students are also having a visual
of what music notation looks like.
6. Once the students are understanding what each movement is for, have the students circle
up again and have the instructor call out a musical term. The students will perform the
movement!
7. If the students are doing well and are understanding the activity, count the students off
into even groups.
 8. Have the students prepare themselves to show their classmates movements you showed
them, along with movements they made up and decided on as a group for the musical
values the instructor presented!
9. Go group by group to have students present what they made up!
10. To tie everything together, come together as a class at the end and decide on movements
together.
11. Keeping a steady beat, dance one last time as a class before the class is dismissed!

Assessment: 
o __: The student was able to catch on to the movements.
o __: The student was able to write the musical notation on the board.
o __: The student was able to perform what was written on the board.
o __: The student could keep a steady beat with the class and while performing in
groups.
o __: The student was able to work together with their classmates.
o __: The students were able to remember the movements to the different musical
note values.

Assessability:

o Pacing: The pacing of this activity can go as slow or fast as the students need. It is up to
the students of how fast the teacher can take this experience.

o Modality: This experience can be done by sitting or standing the entire time. Depending
upon different capabilities, this experience can easily be adapted to the different needs of
the students.