Montessori Elementary Music Training (Sample Itinerary)

PART 1: LOWER ELEMENTARY

INTRODUCTION

Definitions of Music, Ear training, Organizing Principles and The Modes

PITCH

C Major Scale

Listening: Perfect and Major intervals

Guided Improvisation: Floor mat exploration for voice/piano/recorder in C Major

Reading: Dona Nobis Pacem and Partner Song for voice/piano/recorder in C Major

Improvisation: CAD exercises for keyboard/recorder in C Major

Writing: Keyboard composition in C Major

_RHYTHM

Duple, Triple and Quadruple (Simple) Meter

Listening: Finding pulse and meter

Listening: Identifying 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 meters

Guided Improvisation: Rhythm Board exploration

Reading: Pieces for Rhythm Sticks and Body Percussion

Improvisation: Rhythm machine

Writing: Popsicle Stick dictation, Body Percussion Piece

TEACHING BASICS

Performances, Repertoire, Classroom resources, Preview afternoon activities

BREAK

Move-it! Schumann’s Scenes from Childhood

Watch Bernstein’s ’What is a Mode?’

Make your own C Major palm pipe scale using straws and the interval ratios below. .

_{Hint, take the fraction and multiply by 6 inches to get the correct length for each note.}

C (6)	D	E	F	G (4 )	A	B	C (3)
1/1 unison	8/9 second	4/5 third	3/4 fourth	2/3 fifth	3/5 sixth	8/15 seventh	1/2 octave

Once completed, select a student to lead your straw band using Curwen hand signs.

The work below is titled ‘Diversity in Togetherness’ by Savana Ricker. What does this represent to you? Write and share.

In pairs, write your own body percussion piece in ABA form using the backside of 2 composition tablets.

LUNCH BREAK

PART 2: UPPER ELEMENTARY

Recap from Day 1, watch clip of Bernstein’s Harmonic Series. Introduction to Moveable Do, Relative vs Parallel, Scales vs. Keys.

PITCH

Natural vs Melodic Minor, Pentatonic and Pentablues Scales

Listening: Major or minor, Identify Blue notes, Minor intervals and tritone

Guided Improvisation: Multiple scale explorations for voice/recorder/piano

Reading: Blues Canon for voice/recorder/piano

Improvisation: CAD exercises in Pentatonic Minor

Writing: Minor Pentatonic Composition for recorder

RHYTHM

Duple, Triple and Quadruple Compound Meter

Listening: Identifying Simple vs Compound Meter

Guided Improvisation: Call and Response

Reading: Rhythm sticks and Body Percussion

Improvisation: Rhythm Machine

Writing: Dictation and Body Percussion piece in compound meter

TEACHING BASICS

Going Out and Classroom resources

BREAK

Satie’s Trois Gymnopedie #1 Move-it!

Watch Bernstein on Rhythm

Read the article below,‘The Argument for Music Education’ from American Scientist and discuss.

The-Argument-for-Music-Education-Download

Spread out with partners, choose a song from a portable device and create your own Move-it! composition. Perform.

Additional Activities

Read the article below comparing and contrasting two primary pedagogies used in the Montessori approach to music education. Discuss pros and cons to each.

Kodaly-vs-Orff-Download

Watch Bernstein’s ’What does Music Mean?’ Do you agree with him? Why or why not?