Elementary Music Resources: Textbook

Macmillan/McGraw-Gill’s Spotlight on Music

Overview:

Mrs. Johnson’s elementary music textbook resource is Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s Spotlight on Music. The teacher edition is grouped into five sections: “Spotlight on Concepts,” “Spotlight on Music Reading,” “Spotlight on Performance,” “Spotlight on Celebrations,” and “Additional Resources.” Each section consists of six units that focus on a set of related music skills. For example, the first section contains units that each focus on musical concepts including rhythm, meter, and dance. At the beginning of each section is a concepts/skills overview, which gives a summary of objectives fulfilled, skills needed/enforced, resources to use, and methods for reinforcing skills and assessing students. Then, each unit is broken down individually. The text provides a detailed description of each lesson plan, as well as complementary literature. Ideas for additional activities are provided. These activities incorporate links to other subjects in the general education curriculum, multicultural music, performance practice, and music in history. A list of corresponding national standards is provided as well. The “Additional Resources” section includes glossaries, translations, pronunciation guides, national music standards, assessment strategies, methods for teaching English Language Learners and special learners, and ideas for multicultural music instruction.

Note: Mrs. Johnson designs her own lesson plans. She does not adhere strictly to the book in terms of lesson structure, but uses it as a supplement when appropriate.

Examples of Activities:

Unit four of the “Spotlight on Music Reading” section in the Level 6 edition focuses on minor mode and tonality. The second lesson is based on the African American Spiritual, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.” The stated objective is to “read a song with syncopation in a minor key and study expressive qualities.” Materials for the lesson include a recording of the piece and Orff orchestration (included in the resources packet). The piece consists of a single unison melody line in E minor. The book outlines a prescribed process for teaching students the song, including rote teaching, aural recognition, discussion of the text’s relationship to the music, and music literacy. A history/culture link is provided. Much is left up to the teacher regarding evaluation and assessment.

Another lesson, in the “Spotlight on Performance” section, is based on “All Ye Who Music Love,” a two-part madrigal by the Renaissance composer Baldassare Donato. This lesson is much more extensive, and would probably be spread over several class periods. Although its structure is more rehearsal-based, there are listening, history, culture, and composition components. Student objectives include, “singing a song written in Renaissance style,” “maintaining choral blend in vocal timbre and dynamic levels,” and “discussing and performing hemiola.” The instructional sequence is broken down into three sections: Introduce, Rehearse, and Refine. The book outlines strategies for exploring historical context, addressing vocal technique, learning new concepts and promoting proper ensemble practices. Students self-assess their performance. Again, assessment procedures are left up to the teacher, but ideas for “checking for understanding” are provided.