Embark on a captivating musical journey as we explore structuring elementary music lessons around the enchanting melodies of Nutcracker Songs. Many educators are seeking guidance on how to effectively integrate The Nutcracker into their curriculum. Let’s unlock these secrets together! This guide will not only answer your questions but also delve into crafting lessons that skillfully compare and contrast musical elements such as form, tempo, meter, and dynamics, all through the lens of these beloved Nutcracker songs. Imagine your classroom transformed into a stage where students become astute music detectives, unraveling the magic of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece. Let’s orchestrate an educational experience with these timeless Nutcracker songs that will truly inspire and engage your students.
Nutcracker Music Lessons Blog Header – Engaging elementary music lesson plans using Nutcracker songs
Vertical Planning for Nutcracker Songs Across Grade Levels
While my primary focus was on third grade, due to their attendance at a district-sponsored live Nutcracker performance, I discovered the immense value in incorporating Nutcracker songs across various elementary grades. Each year presents an opportunity to revisit and introduce new musical concepts or deepen understanding using these familiar tunes. This approach significantly benefited my third graders, as they had already encountered some of the pieces in earlier years. Here’s a vertical plan outlining how I integrated Nutcracker songs across different grade levels:
- Kindergarten: Introduce the Nutcracker story through engaging storybooks. Focus on foundational Nutcracker songs like the “Nutcracker March” and “Sugar Plum Fairy.”
- 1st Grade: Revisit the Nutcracker story. Expand their repertoire with iconic Nutcracker songs such as the “Nutcracker Overture,” and reinforce recognition of “Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Dance of the Reed Pipes.”
- 2nd Grade: Deepen musical understanding by focusing on duple and triple meter using Nutcracker songs. Explore “Waltz of the Flowers” and revisit the “Nutcracker March” to identify meter.
- 3rd Grade: Engage in a more detailed exploration of the Nutcracker story with note-taking. Initiate discussions about ballet as an art form. Focus on tempo, musical form, and instrument identification within Nutcracker songs like “Trepak,” “Dance of Coffee,” “Dance of Tea,” and review “March” and “Sugar Plum Fairy.” Integrate audience etiquette in preparation for live performances. This Nutcracker songs unit is intentionally extended for third grade due to the field trip experience.
- 4th Grade: Sharpen instrument recognition skills using various Nutcracker songs. Review meter concepts. Feature Nutcracker songs like “Nutcracker March,” “Dance of Hot Chocolate,” “Dance of Tea,” “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “Waltz of the Flowers” to explore orchestral colors.
- 5th Grade: Broaden musical horizons by focusing on genre. Compare and contrast traditional Nutcracker music with contemporary interpretations like “Hip Hop Nutcracker” and Duke Ellington’s “Jazz Nutcracker,” showcasing the versatility of Nutcracker songs across genres.
Comparative Analysis Using Nutcracker Songs
The concept of “comparatives,” often associated with early childhood education (high/low, loud/soft, fast/slow), is a powerful pedagogical tool that extends far beyond kindergarten. Educational researchers, like Marzano, emphasize the effectiveness of identifying similarities and differences as a robust instructional strategy. These higher-order thinking activities are highly suitable for older elementary students. I have successfully applied this comparative strategy to my Nutcracker ballet lessons, focusing on Nutcracker songs.
While my Nutcracker songs activities predominantly involve active listening and movement, explicit instruction in music vocabulary and movement vocabulary is crucial. We begin by teaching the vocabulary, then actively engage in listening and movement activities centered around Nutcracker songs. Finally, we conclude with discussions, utilizing the newly acquired music and movement vocabulary to articulate our experiences with the Nutcracker songs.
Organizing Lessons by Musical Element in Nutcracker Songs
After a thorough analysis of various pieces within the Nutcracker Suite, I carefully selected specific Nutcracker songs to highlight contrasts in meter, tempo, musical form, and orchestral instruments. My learning objectives centered on students’ ability to identify musical elements, employ appropriate vocabulary to describe them, and use movement to physically demonstrate their understanding of these elements within the context of Nutcracker songs.
Some of my activities encourage students to explore freestyle and improvisational movement, allowing them to interpret the Nutcracker songs through their own physical expression. Other activities incorporate more structured, choreographed movements drawn from reputable music education resources.
The National Music Standards for General Music underscore the importance of identifying, demonstrating, and describing expressive qualities in music. For instance, the third-grade standards include:
MU:Re8.1.3a Demonstrate and describe how the expressive qualities (such as dynamics and tempo ) are used in performers’ interpretations to reflect expressive intent.
This standard is perfectly addressed through engaging activities using Nutcracker songs.
Meter in Nutcracker Songs
Learning Targets:
- I can identify duple and triple meter when listening to Nutcracker songs.
- I can create movements to visually represent meter in Nutcracker songs.
- I can identify changes in dynamics, tempo, and rhythm within Nutcracker songs.
Music Resources for Learning Nutcracker Songs:
- “Waltz of the Flowers”
- “Nutcracker March”
Learning Activities Using Nutcracker Songs:
“Waltz of the Flowers”: Utilize flowing scarf movements, emphasizing the strong beat in each measure of this Nutcracker song to highlight triple meter.
“Nutcracker March”: Implement steady beat movements. Incorporate locomotor marching during the A section and stationary beat movements during the B and C sections of this iconic Nutcracker song.
Nutcracker March movement activity inspired by Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move by Lynn Kleiner.
Tempo in Nutcracker Songs
Learning Targets:
- I can compare and contrast the tempo of “Trepak” and “Dance of Coffee” Nutcracker songs.
- I can accurately describe tempo using musical vocabulary when discussing Nutcracker songs.
- I can identify changes in dynamics, tempo, and rhythm in Nutcracker songs.
- I can use appropriate vocabulary to describe pitch, tempo, and dynamics within Nutcracker songs.
Music Resources for Learning Nutcracker Songs:
- “Trepak” (presto)
- “Dance of Coffee” (largo)
Learning Activities Using Nutcracker Songs:
“Trepak”: Engage in steady beat movement using scarves, rhythm sticks, or hand movements to represent the fast tempo of this energetic Nutcracker song.
“Dance of Coffee”: Encourage improvisational, continuous flowing movement with scarves, reflecting the slow tempo of this Nutcracker song. Movements can be stationary or locomotor, and encourage exploration of different levels to express the nuances of the music.
Musical Form in Nutcracker Songs
Learning Targets:
- I can identify repeated sections in Nutcracker songs to label simple musical forms.
- I can use movement to visually represent musical form in Nutcracker songs.
- I can differentiate between same and different musical sections within Nutcracker songs.
- I can recognize examples of basic musical forms in Nutcracker songs.
Music Resources for Learning Nutcracker Songs:
- “Dance of the Reed Pipes” (ABA)
- “Trepak” (ABA)
- “Nutcracker March” (ABACABA-Rondo)
Learning Activities Using Nutcracker Songs:
“Dance of the Reed Pipes”: Utilize listening maps, such as those found in The Nutcracker Suite Active Listening Strategies for the Music Classroom, to visually represent the ABA form of this Nutcracker song. Fingerplays can also be a fun way for younger students to follow along with the form.
“Trepak”: Implement a parachute routine (or scarf routine as an alternative) to represent the ABA form, inspired by Artie Almeida’s Parachutes, Ribbons, and Scarves, Oh My!.
“Nutcracker March”: Use paper plate movements to map out the Rondo form (ABACABA) of this Nutcracker song, also from Artie Almeida’s Parachutes, Ribbons, and Scarves, Oh My!.
Instruments of the Orchestra in Nutcracker Songs
Learning Targets:
- I can identify orchestral instruments when listening to Nutcracker songs.
- I can create movements to represent the sounds of specific instruments in Nutcracker songs.
- I can aurally and visually identify orchestral, band, and electronic instruments.
Musical Resources for Learning Nutcracker Songs:
- “Nutcracker March” (trumpet, strings, flute)
- “Dance of Tea” (flute, strings, bassoon)
- “Dance of Hot Chocolate” (piccolo, trumpet, castanets)
- “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” (celeste)
- “Waltz of the Flowers” (harp, French horn, clarinet, strings, flute)
Learning Activities Using Nutcracker Songs:
“Nutcracker March”: Utilize listening maps that visually highlight instruments as they play in this Nutcracker song, focusing on the trumpet, strings, and flute.
“Dance of Tea”: Employ another listening map for this Nutcracker song. Note that some maps may miss highlighting the bassoon during the introduction, so be prepared to supplement with a visual aid of the bassoon.
“Dance of Hot Chocolate”: Draw attention to both familiar and potentially new instruments in this Nutcracker song. By fourth grade, students are typically familiar with the trumpet, and possibly the piccolo. Demonstrate castanets before listening to this piece, as they may be less familiar.
“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”: Emphasize the unique and distinctive sound of the celeste in this famous Nutcracker song.
Genre Exploration with Nutcracker Songs
Learning Targets:
- I can identify specific musical elements within Nutcracker songs.
- I can compare musical characteristics across different genres using Nutcracker songs as a basis.
- I can use music vocabulary to describe musical performances of Nutcracker songs in various genres.
Music Resources for Learning Nutcracker Songs in Different Genres:
- “Why Toes Tap” by Winton Marsalis
- “Hip Hop Nutcracker”
- Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite”
Learning Activities Using Nutcracker Songs Across Genres:
Listen to and compare different versions of the same Nutcracker song movement across genres. Use musical elements as listening criteria to guide class discussions and ensure students utilize music vocabulary when comparing different versions of Nutcracker songs.
Compare & Contrast with Winton Marsalis: For a substitute lesson in December, utilize the video “Why Toes Tap” by Winton Marsalis for fifth-grade students. Marsalis discusses rhythm using Tchaikovsky’s and Duke Ellington’s versions of Nutcracker songs to illustrate concepts. For shorter clips, a comparison of “Waltz of the Flowers” versions begins around 7:20.
“Hip Hop Nutcracker”: Various versions of “Hip Hop Nutcracker” are available on platforms like PBS and Disney+. Explore current listings. While the full production may be lengthy for elementary music classes, select a movement to listen to/view and contrast it with a traditional genre version of the same Nutcracker song.
Duke Ellington’s Jazz Nutcracker Suite: Access Duke Ellington’s “Jazz Nutcracker Suite” playlist at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MihqGJ4PkY&list=PLEE9A9CF50F4E1576 to explore jazz interpretations of familiar Nutcracker songs.
Conclusion: Nutcracker Songs – A Springboard for Musical Learning
As our musical exploration of Nutcracker songs concludes, I trust these insights into structuring elementary music lessons have resonated harmoniously with you. By exploring form, tempo, meter, and dynamics through the lens of Nutcracker songs, we transform our classrooms into vibrant stages where students become active music explorers, mastering comparative analysis while unraveling the brilliance of this ballet’s composition. The true enchantment lies not only within the music itself but in our ability to guide students through its intricacies using beloved Nutcracker songs.
Let’s orchestrate educational experiences centered around Nutcracker songs that leave students deeply inspired and musically enriched, turning every lesson into a harmonious fusion of learning and creativity!
Musically yours,
