Improving Rhythm Through Warm-Ups in Elementary Band
Kenneth D. Garrison, Jr.
b45kgarr@ci.manchester.ct.us
Manchester School District
TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:
Notation
Level:
Elementary
Class:
Instrumental
Equipment:
Duration:
45 Minutes
Prior Knowledge and Skills:
Students have a minimum of four months of beginning instrumental instruction and should know rhythms involving the following note and rest values: whole, dotted half, half, quarter, and eighth. Percussionists additionally know the following rhythmic values: sixteenth and eighth and sixteenth note combinations.
NAfME standard of 1994 Addressed:
NAfME standard of 1994: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
NAfME 2014: Performing
NAfME standard of 1994: Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
NAfME standard of 1994: Evaluating music and music performances.
NAfME 2014: Responding
Materials:
Students will be playing from customized worksheets created from Sibelius, which have rhythms taken from the pieces that they are performing in band.
Objectives:
The students will be able to accurately perform the rhythms on the sheets. They will play the rhythms, both individually and as a band, on pitches assigned to them. They will be assessed via the rubric created by the Manchester Elementary Instrumental Staff.
Procedures:
The rhythms will be culled from the band pieces and made into rhythm sheets. The rhythm sheets will be handed out to students. Students will be assigned pitches that form the tonic chord of the band piece we will play upon finishing the warm-ups. The students will perform rhythmic patterns from the specific band piece as a band and then three students will be chosen to play two of the patterns that were played as a band.The rhythm portion of the rubric will be done by students. They will be asked to raise their hand for which number they believe the performer should receive. This activity should take approximately ten to fifteen minutes.
Evaluation:
The student will be evaluated by rubrics filled out by their fellow students and the teacher.
Follow Up:
I will plan for different pieces to begin the lesson each week, so that different rhythms will be chosen for performance by individuals and the band.
