Unit Plan 19 (Grade 6 Vocal Music): Listening for Musical Elements
Grade 6 students identify pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and tempo in vocal music through focused listening, analysis, and music vocabulary to describe mood and expression.
Focus: Identify and describe pitch, rhythm, and dynamics in vocal music through focused listening and simple analysis.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Vocal Music (Listening • Responding • Music Literacy)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–55 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students become active listeners who can pick out musical elements in vocal performances. Through short listening excerpts, guided questions, and simple visual organizers, students learn to identify pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and related elements such as tempo and texture. They practice using clear music vocabulary to describe what they hear, laying the groundwork for stronger performance and analysis in future units.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to listen to music as a musician, not just as a listener?
- How can I recognize and describe pitch, rhythm, and dynamics in vocal music?
- How do changes in tempo and dynamics affect the mood and energy of a piece?
- How can listening carefully help me become a better singer and ensemble member?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify pitch, rhythm, and dynamics in short vocal examples using accurate music vocabulary.
- Describe tempo, basic melodic patterns (higher/lower, step/leap), and dynamic changes in vocal recordings.
- Use simple listening organizers (charts, diagrams, or graphic scores) to show what they hear.
- Compare two vocal excerpts and describe at least one difference in pitch use, rhythmic feel, or dynamics.
- Explain how one or more musical elements help create a specific mood or character in a vocal piece.
Standards Alignment — Grade 6 Vocal Music (custom, NAfME-style)
- VM:Re7.6a — Identify musical elements used in vocal music selections.
- Example: Students identify tempo and dynamics while listening to a choir recording.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can hear and name basic musical elements like pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and tempo in a song.
- I can describe how the melody moves (higher/lower, step/leap) and what kind of rhythms I hear.
- I can point out where the music gets louder or softer and faster or slower.
- I can explain how these musical choices help create a certain feeling or mood.
- I can use a listening chart or simple score to show what I hear in a vocal piece.