Found a problem? Check here.
Course Description: The focus this year is on learning about instrument families and individual instruments. Students will learn about how each instrument makes music and will listen to music featuring each instrument. Students will also learn about composition, instrumentation, pitch, and dynamics in music. Finally, students will learn about types of instruments used around the world.
Week 1
Level 1-4/5-8
Welcome to your first day of school! I wanted to give you one important reminder before you begin. Many of your lessons below have an internet link for you to click on. When you go to the different internet pages for your lessons, please DO NOT click on anything else on that page except what the directions tell you to. DO NOT click on any advertisements or games. DO NOT click on anything that takes you to a different website. Just stay focused on your lesson and then close that window and you should be right back here for the next lesson. Okay?
- If you didn’t get here through My EP Assignments, I suggest you go there and create an account.
- This is a once-a-week course. It will appear on your My EP lesson page on days ending in 1 and 6.
- Today you are going to learn about the violin. Click on the strings. Click on the violin. Read and listen.
- This is the end of your work for this course for today. You are allowed to move at your own pace (this is homeschooling), but it’s intended you complete one lesson each week.
Week 2
Level 1-4/5-8
- Today you are going to learn about the viola. Click on the strings. Click on the viola. Read and listen.
Week 3
Level 1-4/5-8
- Today you are going to learn about the cello. Click on the strings. Click on the cello. Read and listen.
Week 4
Level 1-4/5-8
- Today you are going to learn about the double bass. Click on the strings. Click on the double bass. Read and listen.
Week 5
Level 1-4/5-8
- Today you are going to learn about the harp. Click on the strings. Click on the harp. Read and listen.
Week 6
Level 1-4/5-8
- Today you are going to learn about woodwinds. Read about the flute. Don’t forget to listen.
Week 9
Level 1-4/5-8
- Play the mbira. Click the play button.
- Watch the animation and follow the directions to play. You will hover over the very end of the keys.
Week 10
Level 1-4/5-8
- Today you are going to learn about woodwinds.
- Listen and watch this video. It will introduce some new instruments. Are there some you have never heard of?
Week 15
Level 1-4/5-8
- Listen to the brass instruments.
- Can you close your eyes and figure out which instrument is which?
Week 22
Level 1-4/5-8
- Watch this presentation of different instruments in an orchestra. Pay attention to their names.
Week 23
Level 1-4/5-8
- Listen to a piece of music from 1986, Short Ride in a Fast Machine.
- Now here is one from 100 years earlier. (You don’t have to listen to the whole thing; maybe you can listen while you work on something else. Click the corner of the video to make it full screen.)
- And here is another from 100 years earlier than that. (Click the corner of the video to make it full screen.)
- What differences can you describe between them?
Week 24
- Listen to part one of the Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Listen/watch for instruments you recognize.
Week 25
Level 1-4/5-8
- Listen to part two of the Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Listen/watch for instruments you recognize.
Week 28
Level 1-4/5-8
- Play an instrument. Choose an instrument and play. Create music.
- What family is the instrument in? How does it make sound?
Week 29
Level 1-4/5-8
- Conduct the orchestra. Watch the example and conduct along with him. What’s he doing?
- He’s keeping the time, the beat, and showing them the intensity at which to play.
- Conduct the music!
Week 31
Level 1-4/5-8
- Create music.
- Drag the symbols onto the people.
- You’ll get several weeks to make music.
Week 32
Level 1-4/5-8
- Compose music. Click on blocks to build blocks and sounds.
- There are different colors on the left which are different sounds.
Week 34
Level 1-4/5-8
- Click on the map picture. Explore the world a little.
- You’ll do this again next week.
Week 35
Level 1-4/5-8
- Click on the map picture. Explore the world a little.
- You’ll do this again next week.