Introduction to Music Unit for grades 3-5

On Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, maman”

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dr. Kay Edwards, Miami University

Unit Length
There are 3 lessons in this unit for grades 3-5. Lesson plans are
designed for class periods of approximately 30-45 minutes. Teachers will need
to adapt the lesson plans to fit their school resources and the individual needs of
their students.

Lesson Use
These 3 lessons are designed for use by general music teachers;
however, portions of the lessons could be used by classroom teachers as well.

Standards
National Standards for Music are indicated on each lesson. The lessons
combined address all of the 9 National Standards.
The Ohio Standards for Music are indicated on each lesson also. Music
teachers in other states can easily match their standards to those in this Unit.
The 3 lessons combined address all 5 of the Ohio Content Standards.

Multiple Intelligences
These lessons facilitate musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal and
intrapersonal intelligence, 4 of the 7 intelligences originally identified by Howard
Gardner.

Overview
Music Concepts and Objectives/Outcomes are indicated on each lesson.
Over the 3 lessons, all 6 of the Concept Areas of Rhythm, Melody, Form,
Timbre/Tone Color, and Harmony are used (also Style, as a combination of
several of these). Skills developed over the 3 lessons are Singing, Moving,
Listening, Playing Instruments, Creating, and Relating music to other subject
areas.
Lesson #1: Introduction to Theme and Variations
Lesson #2: Create and Play Theme and Variations
Lesson #3: History and Mozart’s Variations

Prior Knowledge
No prior knowledge on the part of the student is needed, although it is
helpful to have had experience keeping a steady beat, using Curwen hand signs
to indicate Sol–Mi–La–Re–Do, using quarter, eighth, and half notes and quarter
rests in 2/4 meter, identifying different sections of a piece through listening, and
playing non-pitched and pitched percussion instruments. Experience moving

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

throughout the room to music as well as working in partners is also helpful for
sections of the lessons, with established guidelines for such activities.

Materials and Equipment

Each lesson indicates the required materials and equipment. Whenever
playing a recording, it is important to have a high-quality sound system and use a
high-quality recording. The Classics for Kids CD or Website is very helpful in this
regard!

Instructional Plans (Lesson Plans)

Each lesson plan has been designed specifically for the grade 3-5 age
group, although music teachers may have to adapt portions of each plan. The
plans have been "teacher-tested" and are easy-to-follow, set up in a format
similar to many music series textbooks. Step-by-step guidelines are given under
the "Sequence" portion of each lesson.

Supplementary Materials
Some lessons include teacher resource materials. By clicking on the
highlighted, underlined link at that point of the lesson plan, you can read the
handout with Adobe Acrobat Reader and print it out for use in your classroom.
You may wish to make an overhead transparency in addition to student copies.

Assessment/Evaluation
Assessment strategies are included with each lesson. For grades 3-5,
simple guidelines are included from which to develop criteria and rubrics tied to
the specific objective/outcome of each lesson. Teachers may find it helpful to
collect assessment on individual students over longer periods of time, assessing
perhaps 8 students during each class, or whatever is practical to maximize
instructional time for children to be actively involved.

Extensions
Each lesson includes strategies for extending the lesson either that same
day or on a separate day. Teachers may devise their own lesson extensions as
they take advantage of the “teachable moments” that occur in their classrooms!

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

 FORM, RHYTHM, MELODY
LISTENING, MOVING, PLAYING, SINGING

grades 3-5

Lesson Plan #1: Theme and Variations

National Std. #1: • Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of
music.
National Std. #2: • Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied
repertoire of music.
National Std. #6: • Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
National Std. #7: • Evaluating music and music performances.
National Std. #8: • Understanding relationships between music, the other arts,
and disciplines outside the arts.

Ohio Standards: • Historical, Cultural and Social Contexts. (Identify and

demonstrate form of phrases; identify, listen and respond to music of different
composers.)
• Creative Expression and Communication. (Read, write,
sing, and play melodies with do-re-mi-fa-so-la on the treble staff in C-do using a
system – solfege, numbers, or letters; read, write and perform melodies in treble
clef.)
• Analyzing and Responding (Identify and respond to simple
music forms (e.g., theme and variations); identify how elements of music
communicate ideas (e.g., meter); identify terms related to form (e.g., theme,
variation, coda).
• Valuing Music/Aesthetic Reflection (Respond physically,
emotionally and/or intellectually to a variety of age-appropriate music; discuss
and evaluate individual and group music performance.)
• Connections, Relationships and Applications (Identify
similarities and differences between music and other arts disciplines.)

Multiple Intelligences: Musical, Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic

Concept: The large form of a piece of music may be comprised of smaller units
of form. Rhythm and meter can be altered to create variations.

Objective/Outcome: Students will listen, analyze, and respond with singing,

playing instruments, discussion, and movement to a main theme’s melody and
variations that include changes in rhythm, meter, and tonality. Students will play
a melody on pitched instruments in several tonalities.

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

Materials: • recording of Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, maman” by
Mozart (available on the Classics for Kids CD or the
Classics for Kids website) [Note: The Classics for Kids CD
has the theme plus 2 variations, played on piano.]
• “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
• “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” in D
• “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” in F
• “Twinkle, Twinkle” in 3
• Curwen hand signs chart
• recorders (optional), pitched instruments such as
xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, or chromatic
bells (will need F# and Bb)
• tennis balls (preferably “dead” ones) or other balls

Sequence:
1. Distribute copies of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and display the Curwen
hand signs chart. If needed, also display a C-Major Scale with the syllables
labeled (or, ask students to label as a class). In small groups or individually, have
students write the syllables for each note of “Twinkle” and then softly practice
humming the tune while doing the hand signs. When everyone is ready, perform
the song with solfege syllables and hand signs together. [If desired, learn to play
“Twinkle” in C Major on the recorder or pitched mallet instruments.]

2. Next, display a transparency of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” in D. Explain that

since D is now Do, the hand signs will be the same even though the note names
are different [Kodály uses a movable Do system]. Point out that there will be an
F# because of the key signature for D Major. In small groups or individually, have
students write the note names for each note in the new key. [If desired, learn to
play “Twinkle” in D Major on the recorder or pitched mallet instruments.] For a
comparison to a minor key, play F instead of F# and ask students to describe the
dark, mysterious quality of the piece, now in D Minor, with only this small change
made; this is now a variation of the main theme or melody.

3. Next, display a transparency of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” in F. Ask

students what note is the new Do (F). Point out that there will be a Bb because of
the key signature for F Major. In small groups or individually, have students write
the note names for each note in the new key. [If desired, learn to play “Twinkle”
in F Major on the recorder or pitched mallet instruments.]

4. Play the recording of Mozart’s Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, maman,”

pausing at the end of the main theme (0:00-1:02 on the Classics for Kids CD).
Ask students to repeat the term for the main melody (theme); ask what the term
is for changing the theme (variation).

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

5. Continue the recording and listen to the first variation (1:06-2:00). Ask
students to describe how Mozart changed the main theme (lots of sixteenth
notes in the right hand, embellishing the melody).

6. To prepare for the next variation, explain that students will now get to use
tennis balls to play a game of “follow” or “quick change.” Review rules regarding
the use of balls in the classroom first before distributing. If space permits, each
student may have a tennis ball; or, in smaller rooms, a pair of students may
bounce a ball to each other; in even smaller rooms, use several students to
demonstrate or make a single circle with one student in the center to bounce the
ball to individual students. Give the instruction to bounce and catch the ball in a
way that fits the grouping of the beats in the music.

7. Play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and have students bounce-catch (down-up)
with the ball to fit the meter of 2 or 4. [Note: You can harmonize the melody
using the C, F, and G chords.] Next, change, “Twinkle, Twinkle” in 3 and see how
students adjust their bouncing to fit the music (encourage students to keep the
main bounce on beat 1 of the music). Stop and discuss the possibilities, having
students perform their movements for the class, allowing everyone else to try out
various movements with their tennis balls. Ask if anyone in the class knows the
musical term that refers to the grouping of beats, such as “in 2” or “in 3” (meter–
related to the written symbol at the beginning of a piece called the time
signature).

8. Next, play a game of “switch” or “quick change” where students follow what
you play on the piano, whether “Twinkle” is in 2 or 3 – make it fun!

9. After the tennis balls have been put away, sit down and listen to the second
variation on the recording, pausing before the ending (2:02-3:11). What did
Mozart do with this variation? Guide students to describe the changes in musical
terms. (This variation is in 3; it has many sixteenth notes in the left hand for all
the “a” phrases, and both hands play sixteenth notes together for all the “b”
phrases.)

10. Next, listen to the ending (3:11-3:22). Ask if anyone in the class knows the
musical term for a special ending (coda). If time permits, listen to the entire
variation (or the entire recording) one last time.

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

Closure/Questions: What is the term for the main melody or musical idea of a
piece of music? (theme) What is the term for a version of the main theme but
with changes made to it? (variation) What is the term for the special ending a
composer might write? (coda) What is the term for the grouping of beats, which
can be notated with a time signature? (meter) What famous composer wrote the
variations we listened to today? (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Assessment/Evaluation: Throughout the lesson, check for understanding and

demonstration of steady beat, meter, in-tune singing, and proper hand sign and
instrument technique, noting whether individual students were able to do so
successfully.

Sample Rubric: All/Most of the Time Sometimes Not Yet

Original idea for meter of 3
Responded quickly to meter changes
Described selections in musical terms
Participated and was on task
Demonstrated hand signs correctly
Demonstrated in-tune singing
Demonstrated correct instrument technique

Extensions:

(1) Allow students individually or in pairs to compose their own melodies on

recorder or a pitched mallet instrument using do, re, mi, fa, so, and la in the key
of C or F; then, guide students to create a variation of their melody by changing
the meter or rhythm.
(2) Invite any students who study the Suzuki Method to perform their “Twinkle”
variations for the class.

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

 FORM, RHYTHM, MELODY
LISTENING, PLAYING, CREATING

grades 3-5

Lesson Plan #2: Create and Play Theme and Variations

National Std. #2: • Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied
repertoire of music.
National Std. #3: • Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
National Std. #4: • Composing and arranging music within specified
guidelines.
National Std. #6: • Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
National Std. #7: • Evaluating music and music performances.
National Std. #8: • Understanding relationships between music, the other arts,
and disciplines outside the arts.

Ohio Standards: • Historical, Cultural and Social Contexts. (Identify, listen and
respond to music of different composers; identify and demonstrate basic music
forms.)
• Creative Expression and Communication. (Improvise and
compose simple rhythmic and melodic phrases and ostinati; read, write and
perform using quarter notes, half notes and quarter rests in 4/4 meter; read, write
and perform melodies in treble clef; play a variety of instruments independently
and with other contrasting parts; identify key signatures.)
• Analyzing and Responding (Identify and respond to simple
music forms (e.g., theme and variations); discuss and evaluate group music
performance; identify and demonstrate elements of music using developmentally
appropriate vocabulary and music terms.)
• Valuing Music/Aesthetic Reflection (Discuss and evaluate
individual and group music performance; develop criteria for reflecting on their
performances and the performances of others.)
• Connections, Relationships and Applications (Explain ways
that the basic principles and subject matter of music are interrelated with
disciplines outside the arts; describe how knowledge of music connects to
learning in other subject areas.)

Multiple Intelligences: Musical, Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic

Concept: A song’s text can be altered to create a new “piggyback” song that can
be the melody for an arrangement. Improvisation creates variations.

Objective/Outcome: Students will create a “piggyback” song using a famous

melody with different words. Students will play an Orff arrangement on mallet
instruments. Students will improvise rhythmically while playing pitched

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

instruments. Students will evaluate their performances.

Materials: • recording of Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, maman” by

Mozart (available on the Classics for Kids CD or the
Classics for Kids website) [Note: The Classics for Kids CD
has the theme plus 2 variations, played on piano.]
• Orff arrangement to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little
Star”
• Twinkle, Twinkle (words only)
• recorders (optional), pitched instruments such as
xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels (will need
F#); one non-pitched percussion instrument such as triangle,
finger cymbals, or wind chimes
• blank notebook paper and pencils (one per small group)

Sequence:
1. Tell students that today we’ll be using an “easy” song that they learned years
ago, but doing some creative and challenging things with it. [If desired, learn to
play “Twinkle” in D Major on the recorder or pitched mallet instruments. Note: For
proper mallet technique, the repeated notes of the melody require alternating
mallets.]

2. Next, explain “piggybacking” new words onto a well-known melody. What

other songs use the same melody as “Twinkle”? (“The Alphabet Song,” “Baa,
Baa Black Sheep.”) Look for patterns in the words of Twinkle, Twinkle and
describe. (The first 2 lines rhyme and are the same as the last 2 lines. The two
middle lines rhyme and are shorter.)

3. Collect “data” ahead of time and organize students into small groups based
on their favorite hobby, sport, or food. Have them write new lyrics to “Twinkle,
Twinkle” on a sheet of notebook paper, and give the song a new title. Have them
practice singing their new lyrics. Follow the format of the old lyrics, in 6 lines, with
the first 2 lines the same as the last 2 lines; also, note that each 2 lines rhyme.
(Teacher could have the whole class create one piggyback song altogether
instead of in small groups.) This will likely take 5-12 minutes in groups. Circulate
among the groups to provide assistance and to make sure all students are
contributing ideas. Explain that you can adapt the melody to fit multiple syllables
of various words they may want to use.

4. Next, display a transparency of Orff Arrangement of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little

Star.” Look for repeated sections that make learning it easy. Practice on paper
xylophones or using body percussion. Learn the parts. Play the arrangement.
Explain that we will use this arrangement to accompany all the new variations
we’ve created. [Note: This lesson could continue without steps 4 and 5, with
groups accompanied by the teacher at the piano, or singing without
accompaniment.]

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

5. Everyone accompanies the group who is singing their created lyrics. All
groups perform through accompanying other groups and by singing their own
creation. Discuss how each group communicates the text of their song through
music; were different lyrics expressed in different ways?

6. Evaluate: Everyone participates in verbalizing strengths and suggestions to

each group after they have performed after identifying the criteria together as a
class.

7. Once the accompaniment parts are very solid, you may encourage the players
to rhythmically improvise on each note using a combination of quarter, eighth, or
sixteenth notes and rests. They must, however, change to the next note in time.

8. If time permits, play the recording of Mozart’s Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je,
maman,” pausing at the end of the main theme (0:00-1:02 on the Classics for
Kids CD). Ask students to repeat the term for the main melody (theme); ask what
the term is for changing the theme (variation).

9. Continue the recording and listen to the first variation (1:06-2:00). Ask
students to describe how Mozart changed the main theme (lots of sixteenth
notes in the right hand, embellishing the melody).

10. Listen to the second variation on the recording, pausing before the ending
(2:02-3:11). What did Mozart do with this variation? Guide students to describe
the changes in musical terms. (This variation is in 3; it has many sixteenth notes
in the left hand for all the “a” phrases, and both hands play sixteenth notes
together for all the “b” phrases.)

11. Next, listen to the ending (3:11-3:22). Ask if anyone in the class knows the
musical term for a special ending (coda). If time permits, listen to the entire
variation (or the entire recording) one last time.

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

Closure/Questions: What technique did we use to create new songs?
(“piggybacking” new words onto an existing tune) What is improvisation (making
up a new part on the spot) How did we improvise? (by changing the rhythm)
What is the term for the main melody or musical idea of a piece of music?
(theme) What is the term for a version of the main theme but with changes
made to it? (variation) What famous composer wrote the variations we listened
to today? (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Assessment/Evaluation: Throughout the lesson, check for understanding and

demonstration of steady beat, meter, in-tune singing, and proper hand sign and
instrument technique, noting whether individual students were able to do so
successfully.

Sample Rubric: All/Most of the Time Sometimes Not Yet

Worked well in group
Contributed musical ideas
Described selections in musical terms
Demonstrated in-tune singing
Demonstrated correct instrument technique
Played correct pitches and rhythms
Demonstrated understanding of repeated patterns

Extensions:
(1) Have the class perform for a younger grade class, accompanying them
singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
(2) Allow students individually or in pairs to compose their own melodies on
recorder or a pitched mallet instrument using do, re, mi, fa, so, and la in the key
of D Major; then, guide students to create a variation of their melody by changing
the meter or rhythm.
(3) Invite any students who study the Suzuki Method to perform their “Twinkle”
variations for the class.
(4) Change the F# bars back to F natural and play the Orff arrangement, noting
the change to a minor tonality.

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

 TONE COLOR, RHYTHM, MELODY, [STYLE]
LISTENING, SINGING

grades 3-5

Lesson Plan #3: History and Mozart’s Variations

National Std. #6: • Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

National Std. #7: • Evaluating music and music performances.
National Std. #8: • Understanding relationships between music, the other arts,
and disciplines outside the arts.
National Std. #9: • Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

Ohio Standards: • Historical, Cultural and Social Contexts. (Identify and

respond to music of historical and cultural origins; recognize the interaction of
people in music; compare and contrast styles and forms of music from various
historical periods; identify composers and classify them according to
chronological historical periods.)
• Analyzing and Responding (Identify the sounds of a variety
of instruments including orchestra, band and classroom instruments; apply
appropriate criteria to support personal preferences for music choice and
evaluate the quality and effectiveness of a music performance).
• Valuing Music/Aesthetic Reflection (Demonstrate how
music communicates meaning of text, feelings, moods or images, and influences
personal preferences; reflect on why others may have different music
preferences; justify one’s personal preference of music choice using music
vocabulary.)
• Connections, Relationships and Applications (Explain ways
that music interrelates with other arts disciplines and with various disciplines
outside the arts; demonstrate ways that subject matter of other disciplines is
interrelated with that of music.)

Multiple Intelligences: Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal

Concept: There were other keyboard instruments before the piano as we know it
today, and other keyboard instruments were used in various musical settings.
Folk songs have various origins; different texts can be used for the same folk
song and a folk song can be played in different musical styles. History, poetry,
and music are interrelated.

Objective/Outcome: Students will see, hear, and describe the differences in

keyboard instruments. Students will read about and sing different versions of a
French folk song. Students will describe different musical elements in relation to
different styles of music.

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

Materials: • recording of Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, maman” by
Mozart (available on the Classics for Kids CD or the
Classics for Kids website) [Note: The Classics for Kids CD
has the theme plus 2 variations, played on piano.]
• French text and translation for “Ah vous dirai-je, maman”
• “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”–5 verses
• listening examples of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” in
various musical styles
• pictures of keyboard instruments such as organ,
harpsichord, clavichord, spinet, cembalo, and fortepiano.

Sequence:
1. Tell students that today we’ll be using an “easy” song that they learned years
ago, but will be digging much deeper into its past and present.

2. Play the recording of Mozart’s Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, maman,” the
section featuring the first variation (1:06-2:00 on the Classics for Kids CD).
Review the meaning of the term variation and identify the famous tune on which
it is based. Tell students that Mozart (1756-1791) composed during the Classical
Period and wrote this piece in 1785, it is believed.

3. Display an overhead transparency of the French text and translation for “Ah
vous dirai-je, maman”. If by chance there is a student who speaks French in your
class allow, him/her to read the text (lyrics). Go over the English translation of the
text: “Ah! I shall tell you, mama, what causes my torment. Papa wants me to
reason like a grown-up. Me, I say that candy is worth more than reason.” Discuss
possible meanings of the words and how the simple, childlike melody fits the
idea conveyed. Explain that this melody originated in 1761 in France. Next, play
a sample from iTunes on a laptop or iPod: type in “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman” and
scroll down to The Swingle Singers, from their recording entitled Anyone for
Mozart, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi? Have students describe the style (vocal
jazz/classical) in musical elements (rhythms, instruments, etc.).

4. Next, ask how many versions of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” students have
heard before – in what styles of music? A jazz version? an American Indian pow-
wow version? a “new age” version? a big band? Play samples of these versions
for them:

New Orleans Jazz:

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1154821&BAB=E

Pow Wow:
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1041430&BAB=E
Sung by the Black Lodge Singers, from their CD Kids’ Pow-wow Songs
(also found on iTunes under “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”).

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

 New Age:
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1135257&BAB=E

In French:
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1119223&BAB=E

Various style examples (30-second free clips) found on iTunes can be accessed.
Some of these are the same as those listed above:
•Type in “Twinkle, Twinkle” and scroll down to B. Aishwarya, a version
from the album entitled CD Nursery Rhymes Vol. 2.
•Type in “Twinkle, Twinkle” and scroll down to “Kirakira Boshi”, played by
Aiko Shimada and Elizabeth Falconer off the CD Oyasumi – Goodnight.
• Type in “Twinkle, Twinkle” and scroll down to Black Lodge Singers from
their CD Kids’ Pow-wow Songs.
•Type in “Twinkle, Twinkle” and scroll down to Ed Vezinho & Jim Ward Big
Band from their CD Blue-Haired Mama.

Discuss which was each student’s favorite and why (in musical terms). Allow
time
to reflect on this and to reflect on other people’s reasons for liking different
favorite versions than your own favorite.

5. Next, ask how many verses they think the famous song “Twinkle, Twinkle,
Little Star” has (probably only one). Inform them that there are, surprisingly, five
verses to the song. If you wish, display an overhead transparency of “Twinkle,
Twinkle, Little Star”–5 verses [Source: Wikipedia] and have several different
students read a verse; or, read several yourself aloud to the class. (Third graders
might enjoy singing all five verses.) Explain that this poem, originally called “The
Star,” was written by Jane Taylor in England and first published in 1806. The
repetition of the first two lines at the end is not in the original poem, but was
added for the words to fit the French folk song melody

Emphasize that folk songs are often adapted and used in different ways by
different people and for different situations. Using a laptop or an iPod, type in
“Four Variations on ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’” and scroll down to Various
Artists and the L.A. Guitar Ensemble from their recording The Mozart Variations.
Discuss the example in musical terms. It may also be helpful to hear examples of
other classical pieces that have used the “Twinkle” melody, such as these, some
of which may be found on iTunes:

• Camille Saint-Saëns, Carnival of the Animals, 12th movement (Fossils)

quotes the tune
• Ernő Dohnányi, Variations on a Nursery Tune
• John Corigliano, The Mannheim Rocket
• Xavier Montsalvatge, “Spanish Serenade” from Sonatine pour Yvette

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

 (recorded by Alica de Larrocha)

• During the bridge of the Indigo Girls song, "World Falls," Emily Saliers
picks the first seven notes of the melody on her guitar as Amy Ray sings
"I'm laughing, I'm under a starry sky." [Source: Wikipedia]
6. Play the second variation on the Classics for Kids CD (2:02-3:11). Ask
students what they know about the history of the piano and other keyboards; ask
if anyone can name other keyboard instruments related to the piano. Go over
some of these by using pictures of keyboard instruments such as organ,
harpsichord, clavichord, spinet, cembalo, and fortepiano. [Source: clipart.com]
and discuss the similarities and differences in their looks. Then, using a laptop or
iPod, listen to examples of each instrument as found on iTunes. If possible, play
the brief, free samples of various recordings.
Suggested examples:
·Type in “fortepiano”... and scroll down to hear an example played by
Richard Fuller.
·Type in “cembalo”... and hear an example played by Turini.
·Type in “harpsichord”... and hear an example played by John Metz.
·Type in “clavichord”... and hear an example played by René Clemencic.
·For a synthesized clavichord, hear an example played by Red Camp on
their recording “The New Clavichord.”

Discuss the similarities and differences in the sounds or tone colors of each type
of keyboard. Talk about the students’ preferences and reasons. Tell them that
the first piano was invented in Italy in the early 1600s. Today we have different
kinds of pianos such as the grand piano and the upright piano.

Discuss students’ preferences and reasons in musical terms.

7. Finally, listen to the ending of this piece on the Classics for Kids CD (3:11-
3:22) as students are putting things away and lining up. Ask if anyone in the
class knows the musical term for a special ending (coda).

Closure/Questions: What is the term for the main melody or musical idea of a
piece of music? (theme) What is the term for a version of the main theme but
with changes made to it? (variation) What famous composer wrote the variations
we listened to today? (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) What period of music history
did he live in and write in? (the Classical Period) Did he write “Twinkle”? (no–just
the variations) What is the song “Twinkle” based upon? (a French folk song with
a similar tune). Where did the words to “Twinkle” come from? (an English female
poet) What different styles of music did we hear today? (classical, jazz, pow-
wow, “new age,” big band). Why do folk songs often change? (different people
play or sing them, and add or change different things)

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006

Assessment/Evaluation: Throughout the lesson, check for understanding and
demonstration of finding connections between history, poetry, and music, noting
whether individual students were able to express this successfully. A similar
assessment could be done on whether students can recognize or name some of
the early keyboard instruments.

Sample Rubric: All/Most of the Time Sometimes Not Yet

Described selections in musical terms
Participated and was on task
Contributed to class discussion
Understood similarities and differences
Can name 2 early keyboard instruments
Respected the opinions of others

Extensions:
(1) Teach the class another song about stars, this one about a constellation
called the Big Dipper called “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” Explain that the drinking
gourd was the Big Dipper and the North Star pointed the way to freedom for
escaping slaves during the Civil War. (Classics for Kids has a program about the
Songs of Freedom that includes Follow the Drinking Gourd.)
(2) Invite any students who study the Suzuki Method to perform their “Twinkle”
variations for the class.

©Classics for Kids® 2006 - ©Dr. Kay Edwards 2006