Unit Plan 14 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Notation & Recording
8th grade choir unit documenting vocal compositions with standard notation and recordings, capturing melody, rhythm, and simple harmonic support clearly.
Focus: Document vocal compositions using standard notation and recording technology, clearly capturing melody, rhythm, and basic harmonic support (chord tones, drones, or simple progressions).
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: Vocal Music (Choir • Composition • Music Technology)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students learn how to turn musical ideas into shareable, permanent artifacts. They take melodies and short compositions developed in earlier units and practice writing them in standard notation and documenting them with simple audio recordings. Students explore how to show pitch, rhythm, and basic harmony (drones, chord tones, or simple progressions) on paper, and how to create recordings that match what is written. By the end of the week, each student (or group) produces a notated excerpt plus a recorded version that align clearly.
Essential Questions
- How do musicians use notation and recordings to preserve and share their musical ideas?
- What information must be shown in notation (pitch, rhythm, meter, harmony) so another singer could perform my piece accurately?
- How can simple harmonic support (chords, drones, pedal tones) be represented both on paper and in a recording?
- How does using technology (recording apps, notation tools) change the way I think about creating and rehearsing vocal music?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify and use key elements of standard notation (staff, clef, key signature, time signature, note values, rests, barlines).
- Accurately notate a vocal melody they have created (or been given), including pitch and rhythm in a given key and meter.
- Plan and notate basic harmonic support for a melody (such as a drone, chord tones, or a simple chord progression).
- Use recording technology (e.g., tablet, phone, Chromebook, basic DAW or recording app) to capture a clear performance that matches their notation.
- Check and revise both notation and recordings so that they align and are understandable to another musician.
- Reflect on how notation and recording together document their composition and support future performance.
Standards Alignment — Grade 8 Vocal Music (custom, NAfME-style)
- VM:Cr2.8b — Use standard notation and/or recording technology to document vocal compositions, including melody, rhythm, and basic harmonic support (such as chord tones, drones, or simple progressions).
- Example: Students notate a melody and record a simple chord progression underneath it.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can write my melody on the staff so another singer can read and perform it.
- I can show rhythms correctly using note values, rests, and barlines.
- I can add a simple harmonic support (drone, chord tones, or progression) and show it clearly.
- I can make a recording that matches my notation (the notes and rhythms line up).
- I can explain how my notation and recording work together to document my composition.