Lesson Overview
Musical Notation Jack-O-Lanterns
GRADES 6-8 MUSIC AND ART
I have seen this musical notation festive lesson done a few times strictly in music classes before. I thought it would be an interesting collaborative arts integration lesson for music and visual art classes too.
This festive lesson I am talking combines musical notation and observational drawing skills. Students use their knowledge of musical symbols to create a jack-o-lantern face on a pumpkin drawn using observation skills and highlighting the art element of value. Refer to the image below for a comprehensive overview of this lesson.
Start by distributing a piece of “scary” sheet music like In the Hall of the Mountain King or Thriller. Have students do a scavenger hunt for musical symbols such as rests, notes, clefs, accidentals, and flags. Review the musical symbols students found. What are they and what is their function? Then, review value in visual art. Identify that value is the lightness or darkness of an object or color. Highlight the important components of value, including: Light source: The lightest part of the object is closest to the light source. The light source may be seen in the work or imagined. Drop shadow: Creates the illusion that the object is resting on a surface. It often replicates the shape of the object drawn and is opposite the light source.
Lesson Process:
Step 1: Explain that students will be using their knowledge of musical symbols to transform a Jack-o-Lantern face.
Step 2: Using pumpkins for observation, students will draw a pumpkin, lightly with a pencil, using their observational drawing skills.
Step 3: Create a Jack-O-Lantern face out of musical symbols selected from a portion of the piece of music used in the scavenger hunt.
Step 4: Create a 3 dimensional effect with the symbols for more of a realistic look.
Step 5: Use chalk, oil pastels, or paint to create a gradation between the light and dark areas of the pumpkin’s surface.
Step 6: Present the jack-o-lantern faces in section order from the piece of music. Highlight each face while playing the section of music.
Feature this fun collaboration on a bulletin board in your school. Not only does it make for an amazing display, but also features your arts integration efforts throughout your school. The more people see, the more they agree!
What do festive arts integration lessons you enjoy? Let us know in the comments below!
Time Required:
30-45 minutes
Materials List:
- Pumpkins for observation
- Paper
- Pencils/Erasers
- Chalk Pastels, Oil Pastels, or Paint
- Copies of scary sheet music
Assessment:
Rating Scale
3: Accurately identified and used musical symbols, light source and drop shadow in their completed work.
2: Partially identified and used musical symbols, light source and drop shadow in their completed work.
1: Did not identify and used musical symbols, light source and drop shadow in their completed work.
