MUSIC 311

MIDTERM EXAM
VIDEO PRESENTATION
ACTIVITY

AKMAD, MOHAIMEN K.
BEED 3-303
 MELODIC
CONTOUR
is the shape and sequence of movements of a melodic
line. All melodies have contours. The contour music
definition is the same definition in any medium such
as visual art, topography, or architecture.
GOALS OR LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Students will listen to and map the melodic
contour of a familiar children's song with yarn
on the music classroom floor. This lesson is
designed to fulfill Standard #6 of the 
National Standards for Music: listening to,
analyzing, and describing music
MATERIALS
Music for Simple Nursery Rhyme Song
6' of Yarn for Each Student
 Instructions:
Draw a contoured line on the board, trace it with your finger, and have students hum along,
singing higher and lower as they follow the shape of the line. Help students to understand the
distinction between high pitch and high volume.
Play familiar melodies on a pitched instrument and have students trace the shape of the melody
in the air as they listen.
Give each student a piece of yarn (about one foot in length). Have students create their own
melodic shapes using the yarn. Guide them in including highs and lows in their composition.
Have students perform their yarn compositions for each other by singing on a neutral syllable.
Encourage them to trace the melodic contour of each shape with their finger as they sing.
Going Deeper
Have students begin to explore melodic contour on a music staff.
Draw a staff on the board and have students volunteer to draw or place dots on various lines and
spaces on the staff. Have the student connect the dots with a musical shape or contour.
Have students sing the new melodic contour(s). Discuss the highs and lows of the melody that are
represented in the contour.
 ACTIVITY
This video is an exemplar of an activity from Carnegie
Hall’s Music Educators Toolbox entitled "Creating and
Performing Melodic Contour." Students create and perform
melodic contours and use yarn or string to create and
perform a simple melodic contour using their voices.