Cup Compositions
Students will use plastic cups to create their own compositions using symbolic notation and traditional notation of half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes.
Lesson Created By: MaggieHaggerty
Lesson Partners: ABC (Arts in Basic Curriculum)
Essential Question
Can you compose your own music without an instrument?
Grade(s):
- 3
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
-Table/Flat Surface
-Plastic Stadium Cup
-Pencil & Paper/Marker & Dry Erase Board for notation
Lesson Progression
Hook- Perform "the cup song" to generate interest for students. Explain that students can create their own cup song!
1. Experiment with sounds a cup can make: slide the cup around the table (2 beats), pat the cup against the table (1 beat), drum the bottom of the (upside down) cup (2 sounds in 1 beat).
2. Generate symbols for each sound. (i.e. circle for the slide, line for pat, dashes for drumming...)
3. Allow students time to create and notate a pattern they like using a 4-beat notation chart.
4. Allow students to share their composition with the class. (Students may share with a classmate, small group, or with the entire class, teacher's choice.)
5. Collect 4 notated rhythms to perform together as a class.
6. Introduce traditional rhythmic notation. Allow students time to re-write their composition with traditional notation.
7. Students may either share and perform their compositions or they may extend them into an 8-beat rhythm pattern.
Teacher Notes
This lesson can be extended to perform a composition assembled from the entire class' traditionally notated rhythm patterns and/or scaffolded down to only use symbolic notation.
Cup Compositions with Maggie Hagerty | Asynchronous Studio Lessons
Maggie Hagerty (Cowpens Elementary School) shows viewers the many different sounds and music one can make... With just a simple cup! Can you make your own cup song?
View Asset4-Beat & 8-Beat Charts
Two pages.
Page 1- 4 blocks for rhythmic notation
Page 2- 8 blocks for rhythmic notation
Use as either a template on a SmartBoard or print and laminate for reuse.
Standards
Assessments
Student compositions can be collected for assessment of the use of symbolic or traditional notation and composition skills.