6th Grade Music Composition Resources (by date, latest first)

Looking for a way to have some fun while learning music? Look no further. This Graphic Scores Unit will have your students exploring how to represent sound using graphics and composing in no time! There are 3 main lessons included in this unit, however, the last lesson will likely take 6-8 lessons to put together and perform. This unit is one I have used with my own students so I know how much fun they have with it! The great thing with graphic scores is you don't really need any instruments to compose which makes this unit even better if you're teaching music on a cart or have limited resources available.

Overview:

This graphic score short unit exposes students to what a graphic score is. They get to represent sound using graphics and compose their own graphic score using found sounds. Students will learn how sound and music can be represented using graphics. They will practice representing a short piece of music through graphics. After, they will represent common soundscapes using their own graphics and will then create their own graphic score to perform. I created this in Google Docs/Slides so that you can customize this unit to your own unique needs.

Learning Goals:

• We are learning how to represent sounds and music using non-traditional notation.
• We are learning to compose a piece of music using found sounds and represent our sound using graphics.

Success Criteria:

• I can represent sound using graphics.
• I can compose a piece of music with a group and perform it using my score.

What’s Included:

• Lesson Plans and Ideas
• Google Slides Lesson on Graphic Scores (including original composition to practice creating graphic scores)
• Graphic organizer for students with fill in the blanks about graphic scores
• Graphic organizer for students to represent original composition as a graphic score
• Graphic organizer for students to represent soundscapes using graphics
• Graphic score for students to create their own graphic scores
• Rubrics to mark graphic score assignments
• 3 Stars and a Wish for peer feedback

Included in these rhythm bundle are 25 resources that you can utilize in grades 3-6. Games, dictation, worksheets, races, and more are in this bundle as the resources discuss longer rhythmic patterns, sixteenth notes, triplets, and long durations of rests.

Definitely a semester filler in here, terrific for reinforcing your 2nd half of the year with some of your upper grades, and with 30% off when bundled together, it's a sale you can't beat!

Got Rhythm Sticks and that's all you got? Keep your kids busy from 2nd to 5th grade (and even older!) with Rhythm Sticks 6pack, an assortment of Rhythm Stick Read-a-longs!

In these resources, you will see the entire arrangements structured across multiple slides in coded colors with the corresponding repeats. There will be eight boxes that hold each beat along with one of three action icons.

• Sticks - Click your sticks together
• Quarter Note - Hit your sticks on the ground (or chair or desk or lightly on your lap)
• Eighth Notes (if applicable) - Hit your sticks on the ground (or chair or desk or lightly on your lap)
• Quarter Rest - Rest

Teach the entire thing line by line through a rote method and play through at the end!

In this St. Patricks Day Bucket Drumming 4pack, you will get 4 great bucket drumming arrangements at 20% off when purchased all together

Included are the following Bucket Drumming arrangements for all of your little leprechauns to play with!

Arrangements are designed from 4th grade all the way up to middle school, so these are typically designed for some of the older kids.

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

In this Star Wars Percussion Megamix, you will get 8 great resources, a mix of bucket drumming arrangements, rhythm basketball, and rhythm stick read along at a 15% discount off of each one!

Arrangements are designed from 4th grade all the way up to middle school, so these are typically designed for some of the older kids.

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

For the Rhythm Basketball:

• Your students will each have a basketball (can be regulation size or smaller) and bounce their ball on the ground each time they see an ornament icon. Each ornament icon is denoted as a quarter note. The rests are in between each ball for the students to hold the ball. Any smaller ornaments (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor

• There's also a "pat" icon with a hand below the ornament icon itself, so you will have the student hold the basketball in one hand and pat the ball on the beat

In this Bucket Drumming •REMIX• Bundle, you will get 6 great bucket drumming arrangements at a 15% discount off of each one!

Included are the following Bucket Drumming arrangements for all your kids to rock out and get their groove on with trap/club/techno backgrounds of popular songs remixed!

Arrangements are designed from 4th grade all the way up to middle school, so these are typically playable for some of the older kids.

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

In this Imagine Dragons Percussion MEGABundle, you will get great resources, a mix of bucket drumming arrangements, rhythm basketball, rhythm stick read-alongs, and body percussion at a 15% discount off of each one!

WHY IMAGINE DRAGONS?

• Great compositions, safe for ears, and engaging music for all grades (battle anthems for most of the boys as well -- surely a hit for them!)

Arrangements are designed from 4th grade all the way up to middle school, so these are typically designed for some of the older kids.

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

For the Rhythm Basketball:

• Your students will each have a basketball (can be regulation size or smaller) and bounce their ball on the ground each time they see an ornament icon. Each ornament icon is denoted as a quarter note. The rests are in between each ball for the students to hold the ball. Any smaller ornaments (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor

• There's also a "pat" icon with a hand below the ornament icon itself, so you will have the student hold the basketball in one hand and pat the ball on the beat

It's the end of the year... and we're in survival mode. Need no prep solutions to make sure your 5th graders haven't checked themselves out and need engaging games and activities for some of your other students? Check out the EOY Survival Kit, 10 hand picked and proven resources to keep your kids busy during the last few weeks of the year... and when purchased in the bundle here, you get 15% off of each one! Feel free to peruse the resources and use them as you wish either for the end of the year or even anytime of the year. Have a great time, you'll get through this! :)

In this Cup Rhythms MEGABundle, you will get 12 great Cup Rhythm Arrangements that span various genres (Pop, Rock, and Movie Themes) so you kids can make some percussive sounds together all semester long!

Cup rhythms are terrific for your students of all ages! Inexpensive plastic cups from the dollar store, Target, or others make excellent substitutes for percussion instruments and in unison played together, solidifies steady beat, rhythm acuity, and gets everyone playing as an ensemble!

Notation is as follows:

• CUP WITH ARROW - to be played by striking the cup (upside down) on the floor
• CUP WITH HAND - to be played with cup on the floor and patting the top of the cup
• CLAP - hands clap once
• QUARTER REST - one beat rest

Gearing up for August and September and need to infuse something rhythm games, activities, assessments for your intermediate level kids? Look no further than the _Back-2-Schoo_l RHYTHM MegaBundle with 8 separate resources @ 15% off when purchased here together!

From body percussion and movement activities to center games and ensemble games played as a class, you'll never run out of things to do your first few months :)

Check out the products below to see if they fit into your curriculum and let me know if you have any questions!

Looking for a load of 2022 repertoire (that's clean!) for your bucket drums? Look no further to keep all of your kids drumming throughout the year!

In this megapack, you will receive 8 custom arrangements of the most recent popular music from the leading artists at a 20% discount when bought all together here...

All music can be found on YouTube (or Amazon music, Apple Music, Pandora, etc) as the accompaniment tracks and played in the background.

You can preview the music in the store by browsing through the bucket drumming arrangements (most are designed for upper elementary, middle, and can easily be played by high schoolers)

Have a great time with this!

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

In TOTALLY TUBANOS, you will receive 6 great tubano arrangements you can do with your Tubano drums @ 20% OFF when purchased all together! For all arrangements, here are some notes about the drumming:

The notation on the first space F is a bass (middle of the drum) and the notation on the third space C is a tone (four fingers near the rim of the drum, pitched a bit higher)

At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?

• Have tambourines or shakers play on specified beats (try 2 and 4)
• Have shakers play 16th notes all the way throughout or in specific sections
• Have half the class play 1st and 3rd measures, the other half play 2nd and 4th measures
• Do it in a round! :)

Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!

In this Christmas Remix (TRAP Version), you will get great 7 resources all Christmas Themed re-envisioned with a TRAP Remix hip-hop background with a 10% discount off of each one!

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

The Video Game Bucket Drumming Bundle includes 9 Bucket Drumming arrangements all at 15% off!

Youtube links and mp3s can be found on the individual pages -- your kids will LOVE this, and at 15% off here when it's all purchased together, it's a win-win!

Yep, it's TS!

With the engaging attributes of Taylor Swift's music, we now feature the Taylor Swift Bucket Drumming MEGAMix!, a collection of eight bucket drumming (and one rhythm basketball) arrangements to some of her best known hits!

Youtube links and mp3s can be found on the individual pages -- your kids will LOVE this, and at 20% off here when it's all purchased together, it's a win-win!

In the Tubano MEGAPACK! you get 14 great Tubano drumming arrangements all prices at 20% off when purchase here together!

These range from easy to difficult and are great for all ages, either taught by rote or taught by reading.

With 14 different arrangements from 3/4, 4/4, and 6/8 at various tempi you prescribe, the fun never ends! :)

You're looking at it! An entire year (or MORE!) worth of Rhythm Basketball arrangements!

When bought all together here, you save over 40% of 48 arrangements of Rhythm Basketball from Movies to Holidays to TV shows to Pop Songs to Cartoons and MORE!

This is a #buyitforLIFE sale! One and done and they're all yours! :)

If you're working on meter in your classroom, here's an engaging lesson that'll test your students' math skills! In Sign of the Times, we do a brief introduction of meter (from there on called" Time Signature"). After the introduction, we talk about how measures (musical sentences) are formed and how composers have the freedom to write different beat patterns in music. The lesson in PDF format (also included is the video along with an editable powerpoint file) continues with illustrations of 4 types of time signatures, and gets into the game format -- a measure with combinations of quarter, eighths, whole, and half notes will appear in the staff and students will have to guess the time signature. On the next slide, the answer will appear. I like to do this boys vs. girls -- they have to use their quick thinking to add up the beats! Some are easy to moderate, but as we progress it gets a little harder! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment... that's the sign of the times!

Use these notation printouts for students to compose their own rhythms. Included are Wholes, Halves, Quarters, and Eights, along with their corresponding rests. All notes have borders which can easily laminated then cut

The #1 selling "Identify Form in Pop Music!" has multiple follow versions! In addition to the Original Version, you can download Part THREE (2015), Part FOUR (2017), Part FIVE (2018) Part SIX (2019) and Part SEVEN (2021) below:

Identify Form in Pop Music PART THREE

Identify Form in Pop Music PART FOUR

Identify Form in Pop Music PART FIVE

Identify Form in Pop Music PART SIX

Identify Form in Pop Music PART SEVEN

________________________________________

Redone and remodeled from the beginning to end with more colorful layouts and updated music, the 2014 follow-up to the #1 selling "Identify Form in Pop Music"... here's part TWO!

Kids love their pop music, right? Want to integrate it into your classroom? This is great lesson to do with 4th and 5th graders that lets them listen to their favorite pop music while learning about musical form!

The lesson begins with a video introduction to form and then talks about elements of pop music and how it ascribes to a specific form. We talk about the intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro, and include (different from the 2013 version) the collision and the channel and then go onto our activity.

I cut out cards... a whole bunch of intros, verses, chorus, bridges, outros, channels, and collisons (or you can do it with a whiteboard/marker, or even as a unison class response) and give them to each student, then have have the kids sit on the floor. I then play an mp3 of a song which has 10 second clips of each of the sections (there is about a 2 second gap in between each clip and all clips are safe for little ears -- no profanity!) and have the students identify them by spelling them out on the floor in front of them

A great compromise to having your kids listen to their music and still satisfy a 4th and 5th grade standard in identifying the structure of music!

The 2014 hit list:

Best Day of My Life - American Authors

Burn - Ellie Goulding

Neon Lights - Demi Lovato

Let it Go - Idina Menzel (this will SURELY get your class sold!)

Happy - Pharrell Williams

Counting Stars - OneRepublic

Pompeii - Bastille

Light 'em Up - Fall Out Boy

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jasonlitt@gmail.com

Have fun, kids LOVE this!