Middle School

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes percussionist Eri Isomura of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on Percussion Instruments

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for Percussion Instruments

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing Percussion Instruments

An introduction to percussion instruments.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes tuba player Jacob Grewe of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Tuba

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Tuba

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Tuba

An introduction to the tuba.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes euphonium player Jacob Grewe of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Euphonium

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Euphonium

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Euphonium

An introduction to the euphonium.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes trombone player Felix Regalado of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Trombone

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Trombone

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Trombone

An introduction to the trombone.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes French horn player Alexander Henton of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the French Horn

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the French Horn

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the French Horn

An introduction to the French horn.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes trumpet player Marissa Benedict of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Trumpet

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Trumpet

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Trumpet

An introduction to the trumpet.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes saxophone player Chris Dickhaus of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Saxophone

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Saxophone

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Saxophone

An introduction to the saxophone.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes bassoonist Emma Plehal of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Bassoon

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Bassoon

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Bassoon

An introduction to the bassoon.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes oboe player Sarah Boyle Carmack of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Oboe

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Oboe

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Oboe

An introduction to the oboe.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes flutist Bethany Summersgill of the Minnesota Winds.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Flute

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Flute

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Flute

An introduction to the flute.

Class Notes thumbnail for a Beginning Band lesson. Includes Rena Kraut of the Minnesota Winds holding a clarinet.

Beginning Band: Making a Good Sound on the Clarinet

Follow along for tips and tricks for making a good sound on your instrument.

Beginning Band: How to Care for the Clarinet

Learn how to assemble and care for your instrument.

Beginning Band: Playing the Clarinet

An introduction to the clarinet.

Virtual Concert: Gaelynn Lea

Gaelynn Lea is a violinist and songwriter from Duluth, MN. Meet Gaelynn and learn a little about her disability and how she adjusts to play the violin!

What is HARMONY?

Explore the basic concept of musical harmony improvising to create simple harmonies using visual prompts! For elementary age students, but adaptable for all ages.

Instrument Exploration: Piano

The piano has 88 keys! Explore how sound is made on this keyboard instrument.

Instrument Exploration: Flute

Even though it’s made of metal, the flute is a member of the woodwind family! Listen to and learn about the flute in this lesson.

Instrument Exploration: Viola

The viola looks like the violin, but it’s just a little bigger! Learn about the viola and listen to several Class Notes artists demonstrate their instrument.

Virtual Concert: Vocal Music

Four different vocal ensembles are featured in this Virtual Concert. Help students practice their role as the audience while listening to vocal music from a variety of cultures. The teacher plays Concert Host in this engaging Virtual Concert.

What is IMPROVISATION?

Making up music on the spot is called “improvisation.” Learn how musicians improvise and practice creating your own music in this hands-on lesson!

Virtual Concert: Instrument Families

Percussion, Strings, Woodwinds, Brass! These are the four families of instruments. Learn to identify which instrument belongs where in this Virtual Concert featuring a wide variety of Class Notes artists.

Instrument Exploration: Saxophone

Bari, Tenor, Alto, Soprano - learn about these four saxophones in this instrument exploration lesson.

Instrument Exploration: Oboe

Did you know most oboe players make their own reeds? Learn about this woodwind instrument and hear what it sounds like in this instrument exploration lesson!

Music & Geography: Around the World

Music is a cultural expression. Visit different regions around the world to learn about unique genres of music and their core characteristics.

Instrument Exploration: Violin

The violin is the smallest instrument in the string family! Learn to identify the violin by sight and sound! Listen to several Class Notes artists demonstrate their instrument.

Themed Lesson: United States

Great for Independence Day or Memorial Day. Listen to four pieces written by composers from the United States.

Instrument Exploration: Composers and the Pipe Organ (Part Three)

Compare and contrast four musical pieces written for this instrument!

Instrument Exploration: How the Pipe Organ Works (Part Two)

Learn more about how the pipe organ works- part two of a three-part series!

Instrument Exploration: Meet The Organ (Part One)

Meet four organists, or people who play the organ, in four different settings.

Virtual Concert: Heliopsis

Heliopsis is a musical duo featuring Mikey and Nyttu. Learn about the cello and some percussion instruments in this Class Notes Virtual Concert.

Music & Math: Numbers

Composer Shruthi Rajasekar was inspired to write a piece of music that helps us explore and think about all the ways numbers influence our lives.

Virtual Concert: Border CrosSing

Border CrosSing is a Twin Cities-based chorale ensemble which makes music that welcomes everyone. Meet Ahmed Anzaldúa, Artistic Director and listen to this wonderful ensemble sing!

What is a NOCTURNE?

Nocturnes are special pieces of music inspired by nighttime! Tap into a calm, peaceful feeling as you learn some defining features and listen to musical examples. For grades K-8.

Themed Lesson: Stars

Have you ever gone outside to look at the stars at night? Stargazing has inspired poets, musicians, and artists. Listen to and reflect upon music inspired by stargazing. For all ages.

cn themed lessons thumbnails-dreams-landscapes

Themed Lesson: Landscapes

Composers often depict images of nature or a landscape through music and sound. Listen to some music inspired by different landscapes. For Grades K-6.

Themed Lesson: Fireworks

How might a composer turn the sound of fireworks into music? Listen to six pieces inspired by fireworks. Great for all ages!

Listening Lesson: 'In Memoriam'

Music and art can help process feelings surrounding difficult issues. In 2020, Sphinx Virtuosi recorded Herbert’s piece, In Memoriam in remembrance of George Floyd, Stephen Lawrence and many other victims.

Musical I Spy

Train your musical eye as you search for symbols in sheet music.

Music & Geography: Maps! (Part Two)

Build on your understanding of musical mapping to create an instrument map for Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #2. This is part two of a two-lesson series.

Listening Lesson: 'Cat's Fugue'

Cat videos, cat memes, and composers and cats! Notice how melodic contour can represent the path of a cat’s feet, moving up and down a keyboard in Domenico Scarlatti's ‘Cat Fugue.’

Virtual Concert: Featuring Women Composers

Meet some notable women composers who have contributed to classical music over the past 100+ years.

Instrument Exploration: Trombone

The trombone is a member of the brass family! Learn a little about the instrument, and hear its sound in several different settings.

Virtual Concert: Afoutayi Dance, Music and Arts Company

Meet Djenane Saint Juste and other vibrant musicians of Afoutayi Dance, Music, and Arts Company as they introduce students to music and dance from the country of Haiti. Enjoy this interactive virtual concert perfect for elementary and middle school.

Virtual Concert: Kroehm Duo

Kroehm Duo is a duo, which means two players. “Kroehm” is a mash-up of the players’ last names – Jenny Klukken and Steve Roehm. Learn about mallet instruments and listen to original music by this Class Notes group!

Virtual Concerts: e(L)ement

Harp and flute duo e(L)ement is made up of Karen Baumgartner and Mallory McHenry. Learn about the harp and flute while listening to this dynamic duo!

Themed Lesson: Snow

Composers have tried to capture the sound of snow in their music. Listen, respond, and move to four pieces of music about snow.

Themed Lesson: Autumn

Autumn is a season of change. Discover and enjoy music inspired by autumn.

Music & Math: Cryptograms

Cryptograms are puzzles and can also be used as a way to structure a musical composition. For elementary and middle school students.

Instrument Exploration: French Horn

Did you know the French horn isn't really French? Learn about this brass instrument and watch some videos in unique or unusual settings.

Listening Lesson: 'Mothership'

Listen and respond to string instruments and soloists how improvise, in this lesson featuring Mason Bates’ Mothership.

Listening Lesson: 'The Unanswered Question'

A musical phrase describes a series of notes that communicate a musical idea. Learn about musical questions and answers, and listen to The Unanswered Question by Charles Ives.

What is FERMATA?

Fermata means to hold a note longer than usual. Go on a fermata scavenger hunt as you listen to several musical examples.

What is an ETUDE?

The word "etude" means "study" in French. Listen to etudes for piano, guitar, cello, snare drum, and trumpet in this lesson.

Listening Lesson: Jessie Montgomery and Musical Influence

Composer Jessie Montgomery was influenced by listening to a lot of records as a child. Look back historically on various devices used to capture music from the record player to the smart phone, and learn about some of the composer’s influences.

Create Your Own Fairy Tale

Create your own fairytale! Use the provided plot template to make up your story and find music to accompany each part of the story. For Grades 2-6.

Themed Lesson: Fairy Tales

Engage emerging literacy skills such as character identification and use of descriptive words to compare and contrast music featuring Sleeping Beauty, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Trolls, a witch, and Prince Charming.

Themed Lesson: Home

Think about the meaning of "home" and hear music inspired by that idea in this listening lesson.

Instrument Exploration: Bassoon

The bassoon is sometimes called the "comedian of the orchestra.” Learn about this unique woodwind instrument!

Meet the Composer: Zoltán Kodály

Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) lived and composed in Hungary. The story of Zoltán Kodály provides a good example of history's influence on music.

Themed Lesson: Protest Music

Students will think about why people protest and how they use music when protesting.

What is a SCHERZO?

The word "scherzo" means "to jest" or "to joke" in Italian. Learn about the characteristics of a scherzo while listening to some playful examples!

What is PRESTO?

Tap into your need for speed in this music lesson about PRESTO, or super fast music!

Instrument Exploration: Clarinet

Did you know the clarinet is nicknamed "the licorice stick"? Learn about this woodwind instrument and enjoy several listening examples.

What is CRESCENDO?

When composers and musicians want to make the volume of music gradually increase, they use the word “crescendo.” Listen to musical examples and practice making your own!

What is a TOCCATA?

A toccata showcases many skills a musician needs to play a piece of music. Listen to several toccatas written for keyboard instruments and reflect on what techniques the performers must use. For Grades K-8.

Instrument Exploration: Mandolin

The mandolin is a string instrument that can be used in many different genres of music! Learn about the instrument and listen to it in several different styles of music.

Themed Lesson: Memorial Day

Use music to think about how to remember those who have served their country and those who are no longer with us. For all ages.

Music & Science: Pendulums

Learn the science behind pendulums and how composer Steve Reich used pendulums to create a unique piece of music.

Music & Art: "Pictures at an Exhibition"

Experience Modest Mussorgsky’s art-influenced musical masterpiece, “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Music & Art: Compose Your Own Music

Compose your own music inspired by a piece of art! Suitable, with modifications, for all ages.

Music & Art: A Trip to the Museum!

Compare and contrast elements in both visual art and music in this virtual field trip to an art museum.

Listening Lesson: 'Golden Butterflies'

Explore the timbres of the violin, cello, and piano in this listening lesson.

Music and Emotions

Explore how music can help us get in touch with our feelings.

Instrument Exploration: Double Bass

The double bass is the largest, and lowest-sounding, string instrument. Learn to identify it by sight and sound!

Instrument Exploration: Harp

In this lesson, learn about and listen to the harp most commonly used in orchestras: the "pedal harp."

Listening Lesson: 'Vltava'

Use your imagination and transport yourself to the Moldau River as you listen to Vltava, also called The Moldau, by Bedřich Smetana.

Themed Lesson: Flowers

Enjoy four pieces of music, each inspired by a different flower. Use active listening skills to play a matching game.

Listening Lesson: 'Walking the Dog'

Composer George Gershwin wrote a piece called Walking the Dog. Internalize steady beat by walking along to this musical promenade.

A sleepy tabla player rests his hand on the drumhead

Sound Scavenger Hunt

Train your ears to hear specific instruments. Fun twist: every instrument in this lesson starts with the letter T!

Create Your Own Superhero Adventure

Use storytelling and writing skills to create your own adventure featuring heroes and villains. Select music to accompany your creation! For Grades 2-8.

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