The Notation of Duration 

Grade Levels:  10-12

Subjects:  Music, Mathematics

Learner Outcomes:  After completing this lesson,  the students will be able to:

• See the mathematics concepts in music: counting, patterns, geometry, ratios and proportions/equivalent fractions, sequences
• Understand the relative duration of notes and rests
• Understand the concept of measure and the number of beats is determined by the time signature
• See relationships between music, the other arts and disciplines outside the arts.

Materials:  Pencil, Piano, Handouts

Technology Tools/Courseware:  Multimedia Computer and Computer Lab with Internet Connection; Browser of Choice Software:  Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Music Conservatory;  Handouts

Teacher Notes:

• Students should be familiar with the use of a computer and how to explore the Internet
• Teacher should be familiar with the "Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory" software prior to students access to tutorial units.
• Teacher should be familiar with the "Music Conservatory" software prior to students access to tutorial units.
• Copies of Worksheets
• Teachers should be prepared to Teach and Reteach this material and create additional exercises if needed with note/rest durations, time signatures and counting.

1. Students will print activity sheet "Time Values In Music" and monitor their progress during the lesson.
2. Students will access the internet site Easy Music Theory :  a. go to "Lesson 2:  Notes" following  through the lesson, take Quiz #2, check your quiz with Answer Sheet #2;  b. go to "Lesson 4: Note Durations, Part I" following through the lesson, take the "Quiz #4: Note Durations, Part I", check Quiz with "Answer Sheet for Lesson #4"; c. go to "Lesson 5: Note Durations, Part II" following through the lesson, take the "Quiz #5: Note Durations, Part II", check Quiz with "Answer Sheet for Lesson #5"; d. go to "Lesson 6: Measures" following through the lesson, take the "Quiz #6: Measures, check Quiz with "Answer Sheet for Lesson #6"
3. Students will access the Music Conservatory software. Discovering Music's opening screen is divided into four areas; access the Music Theory section.  This section offers interactivity, animation and lots of audio examples; access the Notation section.  The students will participate in some of the examples to reinforce the notes and rests taught.
4. Students should access and read the cover story, "A Conversation with Jimmy Buffett Shows Math Doesn't "Suk" After All" from the News Bulletin Online of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics for the July/August 1999. Students will then do a Writing To Learn activity on the article.

1. Peer tutoring or one-on-one reading assistance
2. Extended time to complete assignments as needed
3. Visually impaired student's work should be printed on blue paper and enlarged print
4. Other modifications as indicated on student's IEP'

• Additional activities with the Music Conservatory software and Essentials of Music Theory software are provided to take students to a different level of comprehension and difficulty.  Additionally the internet site of Gary Ewer's Easy Music Theory offers the student 24 tutorial lessons covering material from elementary lessons of The Grand Staff to advanced work with Major and Minor scales, modes, key transposition, triad inversions and so on.

1. Assessment for the student will require completion of an on-going portfolio of all questions, information, etc., collected throughout the lessons.  This information is best kept in the sequence of the lesson.
2. Students will have submitted the required worksheets as afore-mentioned.
3. Students will keep a journal of their visits to the required internet sites.
4. Students will record their scores of the tutorial sections in the Music Conservatory software and Essentials of Music Theory software and by entering these statistics into their journal.
5. Students will print their quizzes #2, #4, #5, and #6 from Easy Music Theory to keep in their portfolio.
6. Students will do a Technical Reading on the article "Math Suk" from the NCTM's August, 1999 newsletter
7. Students will do a Writing To Learn activity regarding the "Math Suk" article and its significance to music

• Music IGO's-- MENC  5.a, 5.b, 8.a, 8.b, 8.c, 9.a, 9.b, 9.c ; WVIGO's:  CI.9, CI.11, CIV.9, CIV.16, CV.20, CVI.18, CVII.16, CV.24
• English IGO's--11.49, 11.59, 11.60, 11.81
• Math IGO's--AM1.11, AM2.3, AM2.6, A2.19, AGP.3
• Process Workplace Goals:  PW.2, PW.6, PW.28, PW.30, PW.34

a)  Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory software, Alfred Publishing, Co. Inc. (may be purchased online or through any full service music store)
b)  Music Conservatory software, Voyetra Technologies (may be purchased online or through any full service music store)
c). Clip Art:  Microsoft Office Clip Office, http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/1809/graphics.html#Lines, 19June99

Authors:

Kathleen G. Corbett , Capital High School
Barbara S. Lockhart , Capital High School
Judith C. Shew , Capital High School

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5