Styles of Music Unit of Study

for the Students of

Ms. D. Shelton

at Morton Middle School

Organizer

Regardless of the type of music you enjoy, it did not just pop out of nowhere. Your favorite music has a history and it probably is part of the history of another style of music. Understanding how our favorite style or styles of music originated will help us appreciate those elements in our music and probably even deepen our love for that style. This Unit of Study will explore some of the more common styles of music and help you to truly understand these styles so that you can appreciate them even more.

Standards

1.1 Students use reference tools such as computer reference programs to find the information they need to meet specific demands or solve specific problems

1.2 Students make sense of the variety of materials they read

1.16 Students use computers and other kinds of technology to collect and organize information and ideas.

2.23 Students analyze their own and others' artistic products and performances

2.24 Students appreciate creativity and the values of the arts and the humanities.

Essential Questions

1. What are features of the following types of music: blues, spiritual/gospels, popular, rock, rap, country, game songs, folk songs, work songs, lullabies, marches, patriotic, bluegrass, jazz, Broadway musicals, opera and ballads?

2. What are some time periods associated with these types of music?

3. Who are some composers associated with these types of music?

4. What are some musical instruments associated with these types of music?

5. What important historical facts are associated with these types of music?

Culminating Activity

In this project you will be investigating various styles of music. Your list will include: blues, spirituals/gospels, popular, rock, rap, country, game songs, folk songs, work songs, lullabies, marches, patriotic, bluegrass, jazz, Broadway musicals, opera and ballads.

As you investigate these styles, you are to record specific characteristics that fit that style. Some things you might include are: time periods, famous composers, examples of famous songs, how it originated, why it originated, what makes it unique, how it is similar to other styles, any special instruments used, historical facts that relate to the style, etc. The more you find now, the easier the final product you have to create will be. Record information on your Style Data Sheet. Remember: it is better to have too much information and be able to throw it out later, than not enough and not be able to complete the final project. To get you started, you may click here to find a very general overview of styles of music.

Once you have completed your project, you will join with 16 other students. Each of you will be identified as one of the styles listed above. The members of your group will use their Style Data Sheets to select characteristics of your style and pin labels on you. Once that is completed, you will each give a talk about yourself and then try to form a family tree to see how you all might be related.

Resources

Each style has a number of resources for you to investigate. These resources are on attached sheets 

Learning Goals

1. Investigate the various styles.

2. Complete the Style Data Sheets

3. Meet with your group and identify each other as the different styles

4. Decide what labels to pin on each person.

5. Take turns telling about yourself using the labels pinned on  you from the group.

6. Start looking for similarities or links among each other to form a family tree.

7. Prepare a poster or chart showing the results of your group's efforts.

Content Knowledge

Knowledge of the following types of music: blues, spirituals/gospels, popular, rock, rap, country, game songs, folk songs, work songs, lullabies, marches, patriotic, bluegrass, jazz, Broadway musicals, opera and ballads

Skills/Procedures

1.Using the Internet to locate information

2. Analyzing

3. Formulating hypotheses

Scoring Guide