Thomas Graham

Woodwind Techniques
Sample Lesson Plans
Week One, Day Five
Objectives:

Students will learn Hot Cross Buns, Go Tell Aunt Rhodie and Mary had a
Little Lamb by ear

Students will learn the fingerings for Concert Eb and F

Procedures:

Students will warm up with a quick breathing exercise (In for 4, out for 4, 8, and
12)

Students will review the fingerings for Concert D, C, and Bb

The teacher will model the first phrase of Hot Cross Buns and students will play
the phrase back to the teacher

The teacher will play the second phrase of Hot Cross Buns and the students will
echo

The teacher will play the song in its entirety and the students will echo the full
tune

The teacher will introduce fingerings for Concert Eb and F

Students will play the pitches on cue

The teacher will model simple 4-beat rhythmic patterns with the two pitches and
students will echo

Students will learn Mary Had a Little Lamb and Go Tell Aunt Rhodie by ear
in the same manner that they learned Hot Cross Buns

Assessment:

The teacher will be constantly assessing in real-time to determine when and why
the class is struggling. Specific intervals and phrases will be broken apart and
repeated as necessary in order for the whole class to succeed.

Week Two, Day Two

Objectives:

Students will echo simple 4-beat rhythmic/tonal patterns using the first five notes
of the Concert Bb major scale

Procedures:

The teacher will play simple 4-beat rhythmic patterns and the class will echo

The teacher will then add pitches to create rhythmic/tonal patterns that the
students will then echo

Students will break up into pairs and will move to different spots in the room to
echo each other

The class will come back together to play through Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had
a Little Lamb and Go Tell Aunt Rhodie

Assessment:

The teacher will be moving around the room when the students are in pairs in
order to ensure that they are on task. Also, the teacher will be able to see the
development of the class from a more objective point of view. The teacher can see

what specific patterns the class is struggling with in order to tailor future
instruction.

Week Three, Day Four

Objectives:

Students will play Russian Folk Song, Parts A and B (Tradition of Excellence
No. 39)

Students will play Baja Breeze by ear (Tradition of Excellence No. 47)

Procedures:

The class will play through the Concert Bb major scale together and in thirds

The class will echo tonal/rhythmic patterns using the entire Concert Bb major
scale

The whole class will play Part A to Russian Folk Song, followed by Part B

The teacher will split the class in half. One half will play Part A and the other will
play Part B. Then the parts will switch, giving everyone the chance to practice
both parts

The teacher will break Baja Breeze down into two-measure chunks and will
sequence it like Mary had a Little Lamb and Go Tell Aunt Rhodie.
Particularly tricky spots can be isolated and looped until the class gains mastery
over them

Assessment:

The teacher will hear students play Baja Breeze in pairs to assess content
mastery and tone quality.

Week Four, Day Three

Objectives:

Students will play Boil the Cabbage Down, Parts A and B (Tradition of
Excellence No. 110)

Students will practice a duet of their choice (Boil the Cabbage Down, El
Camino Mariachi, or London Bridge)

Students will then perform their duets for the class. Students will provide positive
and constructive feedback

Procedures:

Students will play Boil the Cabbage Down Part A as a class, then Part B as a
class
o The class will be split in half. Half will play Part A and the other half will
play Part B, then they will switch

Students will choose a duet and practice it with an assigned partner

Students will perform their duets for the class for student and teacher feedback
o The teacher will discuss how to give constructive feedback and students
will have an opportunity to respond to each performance verbally
o The teacher will grade based on a predetermined rubric

Week Five, Day Five

Objectives:

Students will play the Concert F major scale and arpeggio

Students will play through Santa Lucia (Tradition of Excellence No. 128)

Students will play Boogie Blues (Tradition of Excellence No. 91)

Procedures:

Students will play the Concert F scale in one octave slowly in half notes
o The scale will then be played in quarter notes, quarter-eighth pattern, and
finally in thirds

Students will play the Concert F major arpeggio up and down first on cues, and
then on quarter notes

Students will play the Concert F major scale in eighth notes, articulating every
quarter-note beat. Students will then play the scale articulating every other note.

The teacher will remind students of the STARS sight-reading method (Signatures,
tempo, accidentals, rhythm, and signs). The class will sight-read Santa Lucia

Students will play measures 9 and 10 of Boogie Blues, playing C-sharps in the
first measure and C-naturals the second measure

Students will play Boogie Blues in its entirety

Assessment:

The teacher will be assessing in real-time to determine the areas in which students
are struggling. This lesson is designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate
the specific needs of the class

Week Six, Day Two

Objectives:

Students will play their Concert Bb and F major scales and arpeggios

Students will review Mary Had a Little Lamb, Hot Cross Buns, Go Tell
Aunt Rhodie, and Frere Jacques in the manner in which they will be played at
the 6th Grade Band Showcase

Procedures:

Students will warm up by playing the Concert Bb and Concert F scales and
arpeggios
o After the scales have been played up and down, the teacher will engage
students in balance and intonation exercises such as playing in a round,
tuning chords based on scale degrees etc.

Students will play Mary Had a Little Lamb in a round

Students will play Hot Cross Buns accompanied by the classs notated bass line

Students will brainstorm ideas for accompaniment for Go Tell Aunt Rhodie in
small groups and will present their ideas to the class

Students will vote on their favorite accompaniment

Students will play Go Tell Aunt Rhodie with the addition of the class selfgenerated accompaniment

Students will play Frere Jacques in a round

Assessment:

During rehearsal, the teacher will be constantly assessing the success of the
students, reviewing sections or sequences as needed. Brainstorming groups will
be assessed using a rubric that will be applied to their performance for the class.