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Lesson 1

We play the 'Time Travel' level on the Fortissimo app

1
app
independently
2
talk about music
whole class

Preparation

Print materials (for the entire series):

Additional materials:

  • Tablets, iPads or computers

Activity 1

App
Independently
35 min.

The teacher provides the children with the link to the web version of the app. Children play the games of the 'Time travel' level independently. If some children complete the level quicker than others, they can always repeat the games of their choice. 

Time travel
https://app.fortissimo.education

Teacher:

“Open the Fortissimo app and select the 'Time travel' level. There you will find lots of games which you should play in order. Once you have played all the games and if there's still time, you can go back to the individual games of your choice.”

Tip

If there aren’t enough tablets, iPads or computers, you can divide the class into two groups. Another option is for two or three children to work together on one device. If computers are close to each other, we would recommend using headphones. 

Activity 2

Talk about music
Whole class
10 min.

Teacher:

"What did you learn? What can you remember?"

Discuss some of the app games with the students.

Questions

General questions

  1. What did you learn?
  2. What can you remember?

Specific questions

1. What periods are there in music history? And in what chronological order do they appear?
Answer:

  • Medieval music (≈ 5th / 15th century)
  • Renaissance music (≈ 15th / 16th century)
  • Baroque music (≈ 1600-1750)
  • Classical music (≈ 1720-1820)
  • Romantic music (≈ 19th century/early 20th century)
  • Contemporary music (≈ 20th/21st century)

2. During the Middle Ages music was mostly written for the voice. How different were the songs back then?
Answer: Songs could be in unisson with only one melody sung without accompaniment. This is called monody. Or two or more melodies could be sung at the same time. This is called polyphony.

3. What special form of music could you hear during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance?
Answer: The canon.

4. Can you remember names of composers from the Baroque period?
Answer: Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Claudio Monteverdi, Johann Sebastian Bach, George Friedrich Handel, Barbara Strozzi.

5. What new instrument was developed during the classical period?
Answer: The piano.

6. What did the Romantic composers use as inspiration for their music?
Answer: Nature, art and literature.

7. How did the composers of the 20th century write their music?
Answer: They experimented a lot.

If there's still time...

… children can play games of the 'Time travel' level again.

Skills learned in this lesson:

Students...

... learn about musical periods and arrange them in the correct chronological order.
... hear the difference between monophonic and polyphonic vocal pieces.
... tap along to the beat of a baroque minuet and meet composers from the Baroque period.
... Learn to play the melody from 'For Elise' on the piano.
... learn to distinguish pieces of Romantic music from music from other eras.
... Experience how music can influence perception while watching a film.