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Lesson Plan Image

Introducing Instruments

Create and decorate a replica of an instrument you enjoy listening to.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Poster Board

Steps

  • Step 1

    What feelings or images do different musical instruments convey? Does a trumpet sound strong? Does a piccolo bring to mind a military band? Have students listen to various instrumental music excerpts and ask them to try to identify the instrument and the mood of the piece. You may want to play parts of "Peter and the Wolf" by Sergei Prokofiev, in which each animal is personified by a different instrument.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to choose an instrument they'd like to explore. Have them look up information about it, noting the features it needs to create sound - valves, holes, reeds, strings, etc.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to create an outline of the chosen instrument on poster board as close to actual size as possible. Have them paint and decorate the instrument, adding glitter glue for those which appear shiny. When the paint and decorations are dry, have students cut the instrument out.

  • Step 4

    Invite students to present and talk about their instrument. They can identify what type it is - wind, brass, string, or percussion - and demonstrate how a performer would hold it.

Standards

ARTS: Music: Demonstrate how interests, knowledge, and skills relate to personal choices and intent when creating, performing, and responding to music.

ARTS: Music: Identify interpretations of the expressive intent and meaning of musical selections, referring to the elements of music context (personal or social) and

Adaptations

Invite students who play an instrument to demonstrate it for the class.

Ask students to create a list of famous musicians who play the instrument they chose for this project. They can write a biography about one who they find interesting.