Unit Plan 8 (Grade 5 Music): Rhythm Ensemble Rehearsal
Refine Grade 5 rhythmic ensemble skills with criteria-based rehearsal, peer/teacher feedback, and progress tracking to improve accuracy, coordination, and expressive performance over time.
Focus: Rehearse rhythmic ensemble music using criteria and feedback to refine accuracy, coordination, and expressive qualities, addressing challenges and showing improvement over time.
Grade Level: 5
Subject Area: Music (General • Rhythm • Ensemble Performance)
Total Unit Duration: 1 required session (core), plus up to 2 optional extension sessions; 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students move from practicing rhythms to rehearsing as an ensemble with clear criteria and goals. Using a teacher-provided rubric and simple checklists, they rehearse a short rhythmic piece or ostinato arrangement, focusing on steady tempo, accurate entrances, clean cutoffs, and ensemble balance. Students learn how to use feedback (from the teacher, peers, and self-reflection) to fix performance challenges and track improvement over time, culminating in a short Rhythm Ensemble Run-Through + Reflection.
Essential Questions
- How can clear criteria and feedback help us improve an ensemble rhythm performance?
- What does it mean to rehearse with intention instead of just “playing through” the music?
- How can we tell if our ensemble performance is improving over time?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Use teacher-provided criteria (e.g., steady beat, accuracy, togetherness, dynamics) to describe strengths and needs in an ensemble rhythm performance (MU:Pr5.1.5a).
- Apply teacher and peer feedback to rehearse specific measures or sections, showing improved accuracy and coordination (MU:Pr5.1.5b).
- Rehearse a short rhythm ensemble piece by isolating challenging spots, repeating with focus, and adjusting based on feedback (MU:Pr5.1.5b).
- Use a simple rehearsal log or checklist to track at least one area of improvement over the course of the unit (MU:Pr5.1.5b, MU:Pr5.1.5a).
- Perform a Rhythm Ensemble Run-Through + Reflection that demonstrates attention to criteria and includes a brief explanation of how feedback improved the performance (MU:Pr5.1.5a, MU:Pr5.1.5b).
Standards Alignment — Grade 5 Music (NAfME-Aligned)
- MU:Pr5.1.5b — Rehearse to refine technical accuracy and expressive qualities, address performance challenges, and show improvement over time.
- Example: Isolating difficult measures and tracking progress across rehearsals.
- MU:Pr5.1.5a — Use teacher-provided and established criteria and feedback to evaluate accuracy and expressiveness of ensemble and personal performances.
- Example: Using a rubric to assess pitch accuracy and expressive phrasing.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can use a rubric or checklist to tell what went well and what needs work in our rhythm ensemble.
- I can rehearse with a plan, focusing on specific sections instead of just playing from beginning to end.
- I can show how our ensemble improved over time in at least one area, such as steady beat, togetherness, or dynamics.
- I can explain how feedback helped us fix a problem in the music.
- I can perform a final rhythm ensemble that shows careful listening, accurate rhythm, and attention to our criteria.