“Old MacDonald Had a Band”
Eileen Wolpert
[email protected]
Ancillae Assumpta Academy
TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:
Electronic Musical Instruments
Notation
Level:
Elementary
Equipment:
Korg X5D or any other synthesizer
Duration:
30 Minutes
Prior Knowledge and Skills:
Students are familiar with the piano keyboard – at least the notes F, G, and A
NAfME Standards of 1994 Addressed:
NAfME Standards of 1994: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
NAfME 2014: Performing
NAfME Standards of 1994: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
NAfME 2014: Performing
NAfME Standards of 1994: Composing and Arranging Music within specified guidelines.
NAfME 2014: Creating
NAfME Standards of 1994: Reading and notating music.
NAfME: 2014: Creating
NAfME Standards of 1994: Evaluating music and music performances.
NAfME 2014: Responding
Materials:
A copy of the notation for “Old MacDonald”
Objectives:
-Students will play Old MacDonald on keyboards either in its entirety or just parts of the song. Students must use correct pitches and rhythms.
-Students will navigate the keyboard to find instruments belonging to one specific family.
-They will use the song Old MacDonald Had a Bandto perform their findings.
Procedures:
1. Make sure all students are familiar with the placement of A, G, and F on the keyboard. Review if necessary.
2. Each student will play: AA GG F (eieio)
3. The teacher or other more advanced piano students will play the song. All of the students will play AA GG F when appropriate in the piece.
Old MacDonald had a band, AAGGF,
And in his band he had a name of instrument, AAGGF.
With a FF here and a FF there,
Here a F there a F, ev’rywhere a FF
Old MacDonald had a band, AAGGF.
4. Use a particular family of instruments ö Winds (oboe, flute, clarinet, sax, bassoon)
5. One student can sing the song with the chosen instrument name inserted where needed while another student plays the sound of the chosen instrument with the correct pitches and rhythm in the appropriate places.
6. Ask the class: Was a wind instrument named in the song?
Was the instrumentâs sound heard in the song?
Were the correct pitches played with the correct rhythms?
Evaluation:
Students will be able to play the sound of a given instrument with the correct pitches and rhythm to accompany Old MacDonald.
Follow Up:
Have students arrange other pieces of music using other instrumental timbres.
