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Brief Description
Design attractive posters to promote
the work of Leroy Anderson, an American composer with an unusual
style kids will love.
Objectives
Students will
- listen attentively to samples of music.
- make guesses about the meaning of musical
pieces.
- represent a musical piece through art.
Keywords
Music, art, composition, composer
Materials Needed
- biography of Leroy Anderson and samples
of his work (available online, resources provided)
- paper and pencils
- large sheets of paper for posters
- paint and/or other artistic media
Lesson Plan
Leroy Anderson was a composer whose work
conveyed very strong visual images. The creator of "Sleigh
Ride," "The Syncopated Clock," and "The Typewriter," his musical
scores demystify the world of concert music and are still
enjoyed by adults and children alike. In this lesson, students
learn about the composer, hear his work, and design a poster
to promote one of Anderson's classic songs.
Introduce this activity by sharing an audio
clip of a composition by Leroy Anderson which may be obtained
at the library or found on the official Web site of the composer,
Leroy
Anderson. Select one of the more obvious songs such as
"The Syncopated Clock," "The Typewriter," or "The Waltzing
Cat." Ask your students to interpret the music: What images
come to mind when listening to it? Then share the title
and discuss what insight it gives to the meaning of the piece.
With the students, investigate the background of Leroy Anderson
by reading his biography on the official Web site or from
the school library.
Now explain that your students are about
to become Leroy Anderson's "producers." Independently or in
small groups, have the students select a song by Anderson
after listening to clips of a few examples. (Audio clips are
available online at Leroy
Anderson, or you might play a few selections from a CD
or tape.) Upon choosing a song, the students may research
the composition with PBS's Once
Upon a Sleigh Ride. Background is provided on this site's
Compositions
page.
Based on this reading and listening experience,
the students should sketch a plan for a poster that will capture
the meaning and feeling of the song as they imagine it. Have
students gain your approval (or their peer's thoughts and
suggestions) before using art media to create a large finished
version of the poster. Each poster must contain the composer's
name, the title of the piece, and artwork that reflects the
music and the composer's intent. Students should bear in mind
that the goal of a poster is to generate interest and entice
patrons to attend a concert or buy a recording.
Assessment
Collect and display posters. Satisfactory
submissions will contain the composer's name, the title of
the piece, and artwork that reflects the music and the composer's
intent.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Cara Bafile
National Standards
FINE ARTS: Music
GRADES K - 4
NA-M.K-4.6
Listening to, Analyzing, and Describing Music
NA-M.K-4.7
Evaluating Music and Music Performances
NA-M.K-4.8
Understanding Relationships Between Music, Other Arts, and
Disciplines Outside the Arts
NA-M.K-4.9
Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture
GRADES 5 - 8
NA-M.5-8.6
Listening to, Analyzing, and Describing Music
NA-M.5-8.7
Evaluating Music and Music Performances
NA-M.5-8.8
Understanding Relationships Between Music, Other Arts, and
Disciplines Outside the Arts
NA-M.5-8.9
Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture
GRADES 9 - 12
NA-M.9-12.6
Listening to, Analyzing, and Describing Music
NA-M.9-12.7
Evaluating Music and Music Performances
NA-M.9-12.8
Understanding Relationships Between Music, Other Arts, and
Disciplines Outside the Arts
NA-M.9-12.9
Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture
FINE ARTS: Visual Arts
GRADES K - 4
NA-VA.K-4.1
Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
NA-VA.K-4.2
Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
NA-VA.K-4.3
Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols,
and Ideas
NA-VA.K-4.6
Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
GRADES 5 - 8
NA-VA.5-8.1
Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
NA-VA.5-8.2
Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
NA-VA.5-8.3
Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols,
and Ideas
NA-VA.5-8.6
Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
GRADES 9 - 12
NA-VA.9-12.1
Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
NA-VA.9-12.2
Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
NA-VA.9-12.3
Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols,
and Ideas
NA-VA.9-12.6
Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
Return to this week's Lesson Planning article,
That's Entertainment:
Music Lessons for Every Grade.
See more music lessons on our special Music
in Our Schools archive page.
Originally published 06/06/2003
Last updated 01/31/2008
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