Teaching East Asian Music in the Elementary Classroom

Lesson Plans from 2005 Workshop

Introducing Japan and Their Music Through Technology
(Fifth Grade, 40 minutes)

Teacher: Stephanie Flannery

Objectives

Students will…

Listen to, analyze, and describe music
Understand music in relation to history and culture

Materials

World Map
Picture or “home-made” copy of the Japanese flag
Ongaku (music) in kanji blow up
Computer (per student or one that the entire class can see)
Global Voices DVD 6th Grade

Lesson Plan

• Introduce Japan

Have a student point it out on the map

Share information about Japan that you feel is relevant

Show Japanese Flag

Show blown up picture of Ongaku and explain that it means music

• Use of websites

Log onto http://home.san.rr.com/koto/instru.htm

Either read out loud to class or have students read through at their individual computers

Click on instrument picture and listen to demonstration

Do for all three instruments

Discuss the instrumental sounds and any similarities they see with western instruments

Log onto http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/noh/en/roles_musical.html

Click on Return to “The Roles in Noh Play” (on right side of page)

Explain the four main groups of performers in “Noh Play” (read through first paragraph)

Bring cursor over to stage and highlight the four instrument players and read the following:

The instruments used in Noh and Kyogen are: one woodwind-a flute (fue), and three percussion instruments-a shoulder-drum (ko-tsuzumi), a hip-drum (o-tsuzumi), and a stick-drum (taiko), and together they are often referred to as the "four beat-makers."

Next, click on “The Instruments” (on right side of page)

Give the English name, then Japanese name for each instrument

Have students repeat the Japanese back to you

Play examples of all instruments

Discuss the instrumental sounds and any similarities they see with western instruments

Global Voices Video (sixth Grade)
- Click on Kikiriko
  - Have students “View Song”
    - Point out the instruments being used in the background
  - Play “About Song” to give additional background on Japan

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