Star Spangled Banner

Grade Level: 6 Subject: Music

Lesson Aim/Objective: To review the Star Spangled Banner with

correct notes and singing technique, review the alto harmony in the
second half of the song, and connect the text and music to the history
that was learned in the previous class.

Materials:

Computer with Whitney Houston video and Slugger Video

Copy of the SBB music (provided)

Piano

List of Singer’s Secrets (posted on the wall)

Common Core Standards:

6.1.1 (identifying melodic patterns)

6.2.1 (demonstrating acceptable performance behaviors)
6.2.3 (singing music in unison and simple harmony)
6.7.4 (describe relationships between music and other fields)

Instruction/Procedure:

Pass out the SSB handouts and go over rules for holding paper (class
set, don’t rip, don’t crunch, don’t bite).

Watch Whitney Houston sing the Star Spangled Banner and have the
kids follow along in the music with their finger.

Teach the notes to the melody of the SSB through call and response,
reminding them of the ‘Singers Secrets’ (good breath, yawny mouth,
listen, then sing, head voice, consonants)
Listen to the Slugger version of SSB and have the kids guess what
instrument it is on, and how it was different from the first video.

Work on T and V consonants

Work on phrasing for Star Spangled Banner

Teach/review the alto harmony by echoing starting at ‘Gallantly

streaming, and…’

Review until the class is solid on the notes.

Split the class up into two groups, and sing the melody and harmony
together. Divide class in different ways and continue the activity.

Singing assessment:
- Students will sing the melody OR the harmony in small groups and be
assessed on correct notes, head voice, and consonants/phrases worked
on in class.

Assessment Activity:
- Singing test: students will sing the melody OR the harmony in a small
group, and will be graded on their ability to sing the correct notes, use
their head voice, and demonstrate the consonants and phrasing that
was worked on in class.

Follow Up:

The follow up is their assessment, but they will be working on their

Singer’s Secrets.

Reflections