Lesson Plan

Name: Arianna Canal Date:

Grade: 7-9 (can be modified for younger students) Class Type: General Music

1.Measurable Objective(s): (Measurable learning objectives use action verbs to describe what you want
the students to be able to do by the end of the class.)
Students will be able to create a (8-16 measure) song using garageband pre-recorded loops and midi
keyboard playing (or musical typing).

2.Assessment: (What evidence will show that the students understand? Describe the assessment used –
formal and informal assessments based on learning objectives.)
Create an eight bar piece using pre-recorded loops (must be more than two loops/tracks, must have
drums, some sort of melodic loop, and at least one other loop/sound).
There must be at least two measures of melody or drums played by the student on the midi

*We will share at the end and give feedback/peer review

**Be creative! Experiment with different sounds!

3. National Standards: (Creating, Performing, Responding – Write out the standards that you will be
addressing in their entirety.)
MU:Cr1.1.T.Ia Generate melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic ideas for compositions or improvisations
using digital tools
MU:Cr2.1.T.Ia Select melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic ideas to develop into a larger work using digital
tools and resources.
MU:Cr3.1.T.Ia Drawing on feedback from teachers and peers, develop and implement strategies to
improve and refine the technical and expressive aspects of draft compositions and improvisations.
MU:Cr2.1.8a Select, organize, and document personal musical ideas for arrangements, songs, and
compositions within expanded forms that demonstrate tension and release, unity and variety, balance,
and convey expressive intent
MU:Cr3.1.7b Describe the rationale for making revisions to the music based on evaluation criteria and
feedback from others (teacher and peers).

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 4. State Standards: (Creating, Performing, Responding, Connecting - Write out the standards that you
will be addressing in their entirety.)
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Compose musical ideas (e.g., rhythms,
melodies, ostinato, and harmonies) using expanded forms (e.g., introductions, transitions, codas).
(7-8.M.Cr.01)
Refine and complete artistic work. Refine draft arrangements to ensure consistency in notation (e.g.,
key signatures, notes, and rhythms are written correctly). (7-8.M.Cr.03)

5. Required Prior Knowledge and Skills: (What must students know to be successful.)
Must know the notes on the piano.

6. Material, Repertoire, Equipment needed: (Be sure to include music titles, composer/arranger, text
etc.)
Laptop with GarageBand and midi keyboard.

7. Review Needed: (What needs to be reviewed to reinforce prior learning related to this lesson.)

None.
8. Accommodations: (Special Needs, ELL, etc.)
Move closer to the board, extra help/ teachers aid, extra one on one explanation, adjusted assessment to
meet students needs.

9. Agenda: (List items to be taught and post.)

Lesson
Individual music making time
Song share!
Exit ticket

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10. Lesson Sequence (Be sure to list time in the Pacing Section)
Pacing

A. Brief Opening: (A teacher posted group or brief individual A.…………………...

assignment. Brief reading writing, editing, or problem-solving
activity to ready them for learning – may be a question about the
rehearsal music or at the younger levels it may be a learning activity
to set up for today's lesson such as a "Do Now.”)
(5 min)
Slide Presentation and short Instruction: -showing the class how to set up
and use garage band while they follow along step by step
Before opening Garageband!!:
• Students will choose a meter of their liking ex 4/4, ¾, 2/4 etc.
• Students will choose a tempo

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 B. Learning Activities: (What learning experiences and instruction will enable B
students to achieve the desired results – have more learning activities than you
need.) 1.

• Open GarageBand, click empty project, then click choose. 2.

• There will then be a screen with track type choices. Select Software
Instrument.
• Then select Create.
• Students will create their own 8 bar piece using GarageBand loops.
• Your composition must be 8 measures long, in your chosen meter and
tempo
• Must have more than 2 loops
• Must have a melodic loop of some sort, as well as a drum loop.
• You may stack, cut, paste,and do whatever you like with the loops,
sound effects, instruments etc. Be creative!!!!
• Must have at least 2 bars of your own creation, played by you, using
either musical typing or your midi keyboard. These two bars can be
melodic, or chords, or drums, or a combination.
• ***Please make sure that all the melodic elements of your piece are in
the same key. Try to avoid dissonances, and make sure that you are
intentional with your creation and you are not just putting random
things together.

Directions:
• Once you have GarageBand open, choose a meter, tempo, and have an
Empty Software instrument project open you are ready to start making
music!
• You can begin by browsing through the loops library, (located on the
top right corner), and finding some that you like. Take one that you like
and drag it into your workspace.
• When finding other loops to add to your project try to choose loops
that sound nice playing at the same time
• Make sure to choose loops from different categories ( meaning- some
drum or beat loops, some piano loops, some bass loops,etc.)
• Next start organizing the loops into sections to mold your song to fit
your desired musical form.
• Tracks must line up appropriately on the grid (loops should begin at
the beginning of a measure in most cases) at least four tracks (there is
no max limit, so you may use as many tracks as you like)
• One instrument track that plays drums or “beats”
• One instrument track that plays bass
• One instrument track that plays chords
• One instrument track playing a melody
• Lastly, listen critically and make sure that you balance the volume of
each track in a reasonable way meaning the chords and bass line should
not be louder than the melody, etc.

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 C. Closing/Wrap-up: (This is a recap of the key learning of the day to check C.
for understanding. Could be a ticket to leave as individuals or group answers.)
Song Presentation: Invite students to play what they made (5-10 min)
Song feedback/peer review (5 min)

Exit Ticket: What does DAW stand for?

D. Assignment: D.
Students will expand on the song created in class and will create another
8 bars of the song for homework. There must be some sort of shift in
mood, style, tempo, drums, melody, etc.; there must be some contrast
from the first 8 bars (must be more than 2 loops/tracks).
Must be 2 additional measures of melody/drums created using the midi
keyboard.
**Be creative! Experiment with different sounds!

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