Major Art Modality Utilized: Storytelling Multiple Intelligences Addressed: Linguistic, Musical Lesson Abstract: In learning about music theory and the.

Major Art Modality Utilized: Storytelling

Multiple Intelligences Addressed: Linguistic, Musical

Lesson Abstract: In learning about music theory and the basic music symbols used in reading music (treble clef, time signature, measure, staff), students will be engaged in an original curriculum story to help them retain subject matter.

Materials Needed: See attached story with preparation notes explaining how to execute the draw-and-tell story.

Procedures

1. Before students begin music theory lessons in a music class, use attached story to help explain the role of the treble clef, time signature, bar lines, and a double bar line on a staff. This story also helps to explain the organization of note values in rhythm, the role of the bass clef, and how two staves come together to create a grand staff.

2. When the story concludes, introduce the same theoretical concepts and have students identify each symbol as mentioned in the story and draw on their own sheet of staff paper.

Assessment: The students will demonstrate their knowledge by passing a written test (see example in next slide) and by demonstrating the ability to read music for instrument proficiency.

Resources/ Links: See attached story on next slides

Standards Addressed in this Lesson:

MMSMA.3 - Reading and notating musica. Identify standard notation symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, expression, and key signatures.b. Notate music on a staff using either staff paper or notation software

MMSMA.5 a. Demonstrate how the elements of music are used to achieve unity and variety

Area for Teacher Notes:

Standards Addressed in this Lesson:

MMSMA.3 - Reading and notating musica. Identify standard notation symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, expression, and key signatures.b. Notate music on a staff using either staff paper or notation software

MMSMA.5 a. Demonstrate how the elements of music are used to achieve unity and variety

Area for Teacher Notes:

SUBJECT AREA/ SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL:Music and Storytelling / Grades 6-8 - In Theory: A Draw and Tell StorySUBJECT AREA/ SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL:Music and Storytelling / Grades 6-8 - In Theory: A Draw and Tell Story Page 1 of 6

Theory Quiz Name ___________________________________Identify the symbols below. Use the word bank provided.

1. ___________________ 5. ___________________

2. ___________________ 6. ___________________

3. ___________________ 7. ___________________

4. ___________________ 8. ___________________

9. List the letter names of the five lines of the treble clef staff:______________________________________________________________________10. List the letter names of the four spaces of the treble clef staff:______________________________________________________________________11. List the letter names of the five lines of the bass clef staff:______________________________________________________________________12. List the letter names of the four spaces of the bass clef staff:______________________________________________________________________13. Where is middle C located?______________________________________________________________________14. What helps connect the two staves to make a grand staff?______________________________________________________________________15. A 4/4 time signature is also known as:______________________________________________________________________

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Word Bank Bass Clef Half Note Treble Clef Whole Note Bar Line Quarter Note Measure Time Signature

In Theory: A Draw and Tell Story

There once was a girl named Miss Treble. She was very “curvy” lady, but her soul on the inside was very straight and strong. *draw treble clef on white board*

She lived in the north part of the Land of Staff, which was owned by her landlord, Sir Common Time. *draw a 4/4 time signature next to the treble clef* The Land of Staff only consisted of 5 rows offarmland, *draw five horizontal lines* which worked well for Miss Treble, for all she owned were cows.

Miss Treble had 3 types of cows, and each cow produced a certain kind of milk. However, in accordance of her landlord, she was asked to put in bar lines on her land to create measures to help contain the cows. *draw four bar lines vertically on the five horizontal lines*She could have as many measures as she’d like, but could only have a certain number of cows in each measure in conjunction to the cow’s size.

The largest cow, who produced the whole milk, was so big, that no other cows could share his measure with him. So Sir Common Time made it henceforth known that only one whole milk producing cow could live in a measure. *draw a whole note in the first measure*

The medium size cows, who produced the half-n-half creamer for Miss Treble’s coffee, lived in pairs. Sir Common Time believed that the cows in charge of the half-in-half creamer should live together to make them whole. *draw two half notes in the next measure*

And alas, for the smallest cows (who produced the chocolate milk), Sir Common Time allowed four small cows in each measure.*draw four quarter notes in the third measure, and one whole note in the last measure*

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In Theory: A Draw and Tell Story continued

The cows were free to roam within the 5 rows of The Land of Staff, just as long as they stayed in their measure. Each row contained food for the cows to eat. The first row grew eggplants, the second row grew grains, the third row grew barley, the fourth row grew dandelions, and the top row grew flowers. *write E, G, B, D, and F on the lines of the staff from the bottom to the top*

The cows especially enjoyed the spaces in between the rows, for within the spaces were reflection pools where they could see their faces (which helped the whole milk cow not be so lonely). *write the word “FACE” in the spaces from the bottom to the top*

While Miss Treble enjoyed her cows and their measures and even developed a friendship with her landlord, she was lonely. Sir Common Time was an old, cranky man who lived by strict rules. Miss Treble wanted someone who could help complete her.

Little did she know that on the south side of the Land of Staff was a prince named Prince Bass Clef. *draw a bass clef below the treble clef* He owned his own 5 rows of farmland and had his own cows.*draw five horizontal lines directly below the first group of lines*

However, Prince Bass Clef did not have a wide variety of food for his cows to eat on his land. All of his cows eat grass. *write the letters A, C, E, and G in the spaces from the bottom to top* He also did not have a landlord with strict rules, and so he had a problem with other animals invading his land and eating his grass. Therefore, he had to resort to getting great, big dogs to fight off the animals. *write G, B, D, F, and A on the lines of the staff from the bottom to top*

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In Theory: A Draw and Tell Story continued

His cows also tend to roam into each other’s pastures. Whole milk producing cows lived with chocolate milk cows, the half-and-half cows were split up, and life on the land was very chaotic! *draw notes on the staff without measures*

The prince needed someone who would help him manage his cows and keep them organized. So he decided to take his boat and cross the sea up north to the upper-side of The Land of Staff in search of a soul mate. There, he met and fell in love with Miss Treble.

One day, he asked Miss Treble to marry him. To show his love, he reached out to embrace her. *draw half of a brace on the left-hand side of the treble clef* She said, “Yes!” and in return, she reached out to him, and they embraced. *complete the brace on the left-hand side of the two staves, connecting them*

However, Sir Common Time knew that the prince did not have bar lines to create measures to keep his cows in order, so he forbade Miss Treble to marry the prince. Prince Bass Clef knew that Miss Treble was the one for him, and was willing to do anything to marry her.

Therefore, he asked Sir Common Time to rule both their lands *draw a 4/4 time signature in the bass clef staff* and to extend the bar lines into his land on the south side to keep his cows in order, just like Miss Treble’s cows. *extend the bar lines from the treble to the bass clef*

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In Theory: A Draw and Tell Story continued

Sir Common Time was still unsure, because of sea that separates the north staff from the south staff. He wondered, “How could you two share your cows if they cannot swim across the sea?!” There was not an easy way to cross it except by boat, but the cows had motion sickness and could not travel by boat. The prince agreed and gave Sir Common Time permission to build a ledger line *draw a ledger line in between the two staves* as a bridge to cross over the sea *draw the letter “C” on the ledger line* so Sir Common Time could then oversee both the king and queen’s cows on both lots of land.

Sir Common Time agreed to the prince’s offer, and they had a beautiful wedding! The prince became king, Miss Treble became queen, and their two lots of land became one Grand Staff. And as far as anyone knows, King Bass Clef and Queen Treble Clef, connected by their vows and their brace, all are living happily on The Grand Staff still to this day.

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