Lesson #: 1/3 Date of lesson: 4/10/23

Objectives
Students will demonstrate their ability to:

 Replicate the basic playing technique on handpan

 Understand the need to alternate hands and to begin developing a comfort with
alternation
 Understand the note order on handpan and how to read them

Activities/Strategies
1. Introduction to handpan project
a. Students will learn about the sound of the handpan and what is possible
with it by watching teacher model the instrument.
b. Teacher will explain the base note, or “ding,” sharing how to strike the
handpan on the ding, comparing it to dribbling a ball or pinching fingers
together then taking away the thumb. Finger is like the rubber pencil trick.
2. Exploring the instrument
a. Students will each receive an opportunity to try striking the instruments
while the other students will watch and practice on their own handpan
sheet provided. This is an opportunity for students to explore on the
instrument for the first time. (P)
b. Give feedback individually while students are exploring. Go over things
noticed with full group once everyone had the opportunity to explore. (P)
3. Alternating hands
a. Demonstrate how to alternate hands and have everyone practice on their
handpan sheet together in time. (P)
b. Split into two groups of two and have one group face each other on
opposite sides of the handpan. Each student will practice alternating hands
in time with each other. The students not on the handpan will practice the
alternating technique on their own with their handpan sheet. (P)
4. Learning the notes and pattern
a. Model playing up and down the scale of the handpan. Do you see the
pattern? Starts from largest to smallest notes, from bottom of instrument
to top, alternating left and right sides of instrument.
 5. Check in
a. Review together the main techniques, asking students questions that they
answer out loud. Ask questions that engage students and get them thinking
about the handpan in creative ways- What is it like to feel the vibrations of
the instrument as you strike it? What was your first impression of the
handpan? What about now that you played it? (A)

Assessments

 Group discussion

Materials

 Handpan sheet
 Handpan

Class Groupings

 Full Group
 Groups of Two
 Individual Work
Lesson #:2/3 Date of lesson: 4/13/23

Objectives
Students will demonstrate their ability to:

 Perform striking techniques learned in previous lesson

 Perform accents and ghost notes
 Read dictation for ding, ghost notes, accents and be able to read and perform
written patterns
 Recognize techniques learned from last lesson in a professional performance for
handpan

Activities/Strategies
1. Review striking technique
a. Establish expectations- “Last time we learned how to strike the ding note
on the handpan and learned how to alternate hands in time. This time we
will learn how to play accent notes and ghost notes.”
b. Review and discuss as a full group what the techniques were and how to
achieve them. Take individual ideas from hands raised. (A)
2. Listening to professional handpan player
a. Listen to recording of professional handpan player. Review before the
performance what we will be looking for- How does he strike the
instrument? Relaxed wrists, alternating hands, looks like dribbling.
i. “Listen to the Mountains”-Yatao
b. Discuss things we noticed together as a full group.
3. Learning accent notes and ghost notes
a. Model how notes sound and where on the handpan to do them (body of
the instrument).
b. Practice as a group the technique for playing ghost notes and accents. (P)
c. Give time for each student to play on the handpan and practice ghost notes
and accents while everyone else practices the technique on handpan sheet.
(P)
4. Learning how to read notation for handpan
a. Share handpan key that shows how ding, accents, and ghost notes are
written.
 b. Share written patterns that practice each skill and have full group practice
each pattern first together, then individually. (P)
5. Check-in
a. Review accents, ghost notes, and dings and how to read and perform them.
Where do we hit on the handpan for accents and ghost notes? (A)

Assessments

 Group review of technique learned in last lesson

 Group check-in and discussion

Materials

 Handpan sheet
 Handpan pattern sheet
 Handpan notation key
 Handpan

Class Groupings

 Full Group
 Groups of Two
 Individual Work
Lesson #:3/3 Date of lesson: 4/18/23

Objectives
Students will demonstrate their ability to:

 Perform written patterns they read

 Create and notate a repeating pattern to be played on handpan
 Perform pattern they have created
 Recognize repetition and write repetition into their written pattern

Activities/Strategies
1. Review accents, ghost notes, and ding and associated dictation
a. As a group, go over what they remember and fill in any gaps for details they
forgot.
2. Learning more notation
a. Introduce “random note, up a note, down a note, and specific note,”
notation.
3. Writing patterns
a. Practice first writing a pattern only using ding, ghost notes, and accents. (C)
b. Encourage repetition in the pattern. Explain what a groove is. (C)
4. Practice written patterns
a. Students will practice performing their pattern on either the handpan or
their handpan sheet. Take this time to get it in their hands and work on
hand alternation. (P)
b. Students will perform their pattern for the group. Those listening will
observe the techniques done by their classmates. (P)
5. Writing Patterns
a. Students will write another pattern, this time including specific notes, up
and down note notation, or random note notation if they would like to.
Encourage repetition and keeping patterns simple and easy to play. (C)
6. Practice written patterns
a. Students will practice performing their pattern on either the handpan or
their handpan sheet.
b. Students will perform their pattern for the group. Those listening will
observe the techniques done by their classmates. (P)
 7. Reflect
a. Reflect on what we learned. What went well? What did you want to
practice more? What did you enjoy doing the most? (A)

Assessments

 Group review of notation

 Group final reflection

Materials

 Handpan sheet
 Handpan pattern sheet
 Handpan notation key
 Handpan
 Pencil

Class Groupings

 Full Group
 Individual Work