I chose to use a lesson plan on the science behind how
sounds are made because it is different than most music lessons. I find the
concept of sound being something you can actually see and feel interesting. For
many years, we did not have the technology to see sound; now that we do,
students can understand so much more. For example, when musicians are out of
tune, we say there are "beats" in the music. To the ear, it sounds
almost like a vibrating fan. But we now know that it looks like sound waves
beating against each other because they are not in sync. I think if students
understand the science behind sound, certain aspects of music will make more
sense. The difficulty in this lesson was justifying it with a specific standard.
This lesson covers many of the standards and promotes a deep understanding of
the general topic of sound in music, but it is difficult to pin it to a few
specific ones. A well-balanced variety of strategies will engage different
types of learners, causing students to think critically and learn about the
topic not only from the teacher, but from professional videos from scientists
and musicians. The technology used in this lesson is not breaking edge, but I
do not think that it has to be. The use of a variety of free online resources
allows us to teach things we would never have the knowledge or ability to share
in the past. By adding the use of an oscilloscope to this lesson, the students
will be able to do the same experimenting they have just watched on a
professional video. Being able to watch professionals via video and sound is
essential for a budding musician. It shows what they are striving for, and
often inspires a student to continue their music career.
