Music listening lesson plans

The purpose of this project is to provide student teaching and in-service music teachers with a resource for listening lessons.

I always remember the moments when my dad turned on his stereo and put an LP on his turntable, then the music was flowing out and filled the room with a glow I would not feel at any other time. I think this was the start of my interest in music listening. And I always believe that I have chosen music as my career, not only because I learned to play the piano when I was young, but also because I had an interest in music listening and I wanted to find out more about music. I also believe that, if I can provide my students with the joy of music listening, their desire to "learn music" will be generated naturally. However, this kind of joy doesn't come automatically. There must be some instruction to guide students' discovery of what's going on in music. Once the music becomes meaningful to them, their interest and enjoyment will be fostered. Therefore, in listening lessons, students are not just passively sitting there and listening. The instruction should engage students' minds in music and draw their attention to the music itself. It is important that the instruction should not be just "fun" activities where music only serves as the background, but the instruction should focus on the music itself-that is, the musical elements, such as melody, rhythm, and so on. Choosing pieces for guided listening lessons is crucial. The choice must be a good example of the concept on which the lesson focuses. It must also be age appropriate.