| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Music |
| What topic | Minimalism |
| What length (min) | 30 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 7 |
| Class size | 20 |
| What curriculum | |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
Minimalism in Music
Year 7
Music
20 Students
30 minutes
The lesson meets curriculum requirements for understanding musical genres, evaluating music, and engaging in practical composition.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length (minutes) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Minimalism | 5 | Introduce the concept of minimalism in music with examples. Discuss its characteristics and significance. |
| 2 | Listening Activity | 10 | Play selected audio samples of minimalist works. Facilitate a brief discussion on students' impressions. |
| 3 | Printable Card Distribution | 5 | Hand out printable cards to students for filling in during the lesson. Explain their purpose and content. |
| 4 | Creation Activity | 5 | Guide students in creating a short minimalist piece using a simple set of guidelines. |
| 5 | Collection/Checking Cards | 3 | Collect or randomly check the printable cards to assess understanding without asking students to present. |
| 6 | Homework Assignment | 2 | Assign homework related to the lesson topic, explaining expectations and submission methods. |
| 7 | Closing Remarks | 1 | Recap key points of the lesson and address any questions. |
This lesson plan provides a structured approach for teaching Year 7 students about minimalist music, encouraging both listening and creation while also integrating assessment through card activities.
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we’re going to explore a fascinating topic in music called minimalism. Minimalism is all about simplicity and repetition. Imagine a piece of music where instead of lots of complicated changes, there are just a few notes that are repeated in interesting ways.
Can anyone think of a piece of music that feels simple or repetitive? [Pause for responses].
Great! Minimalism is significant because it helped to change how composers thought about music in the 20th century. We're going to listen to some examples today to really understand this style."
"Now let’s dive into some audio samples of minimalist music. I’ll play a few selections, and I want you to listen closely to how the music makes you feel and what stands out to you.
[Play audio samples of works by Steve Reich and Philip Glass].
What did you notice about the music? [Pause for students to respond].
Did you hear any repeated phrases? Did any parts feel different despite the repetition? Excellent observations! Minimalist music creates a different kind of experience by focusing on these subtle changes and textures."
"Now I’m going to hand out some printable cards. These cards will help you keep track of what we've discussed today, and you'll fill them in as we go along.
Take a moment to look over the cards. There will be sections for you to note down key characteristics of minimalism, some composers, and what you think about the pieces we listened to.
Once you have your card, please keep it handy for our upcoming activities."
"Let’s get creative! We’re going to create a short minimalist piece of music together. Here are some simple guidelines:
Work in pairs for the next five minutes to draft out your piece. After that, we’ll share what you’ve created. Remember, the beauty of minimalism is in the simplicity, so don’t complicate it too much!"
"Great job on your creations! Now, I’d like to collect your cards to see what you've written. I’ll check through them to assess your understanding of minimalist music.
Please pass your cards forward, and don’t worry, you won’t have to present them – this is just to help me understand what you learned today."
"For homework, I’d like you to research one minimalist composer or work that we haven't discussed yet. Write a short paragraph about their music style and how it fits into the minimalist movement.
Be prepared to share what you find next lesson, and remember to bring your written work to class.
If you have any questions about this task, feel free to ask me now!"
"To wrap up today’s lesson, we’ve learned about the basics of minimalism in music and listened to some examples. You also had the chance to create your own minimalist piece, which is fantastic!
Does anyone have any final questions about today’s topic? [Pause for questions].
Thank you for your great participation today, and I look forward to hearing about your homework next time!"
Define minimalism in music. What are its key characteristics?
Name at least two minimalist composers and provide a brief description of their contributions to the genre.
After listening to the audio samples in class, describe your emotional reaction to one specific piece. What elements of the music stood out to you?
In your opinion, what makes repetition significant in minimalist music? Provide examples to support your view.
Create a short musical motif of your own. Describe it in detail, including the notes used, the pattern of repetition, and any variations you would incorporate.
Research one minimalist work or composer that we did not cover in class. Write a paragraph summarising their style and place in the minimalist movement.
Reflect on the creation activity from class. How did working in pairs affect your creative process, and what did you learn about collaboration in music?
Discuss the impact of minimalism on the broader landscape of music in the 20th century. How did it influence other genres or movements?
Choose one minimalist piece you listened to in class and compare it with a different genre of music. What similarities and differences did you notice in structure and style?
If you were to compose a minimalist piece, what themes or emotions would you want to convey? Explain your choices and how they align with minimalist principles.
| Question | Answer |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| What is minimalism in music? | |
| Can you name a composer associated with minimalist music? | |
| How does repetition play a role in minimalist music? | |
| What feelings or thoughts did the audio samples of minimalist music evoke for you? | |
| What are some key characteristics of minimalism that you noted on your cards? | |
| How did you apply the principles of minimalism in your own music creation? | |
| What did you change in the pattern of notes during your creation activity? | |
| Why is minimalism considered significant in the context of 20th-century music? | |
| Can you give an example of a piece of minimalist music, and how does it represent the style? | |
| What were the challenges you faced when creating your own minimalist piece? | |