Including Music History in Your Lesson Plan
As music teachers, we are always trying to improve and expand upon our teaching methods. It’s a common goal amongst us all to provide our students with a beneficial music education that will last them a lifetime. We’re here to help ensure this is true for you and your students!
Impactful music instruction leaves your students excited to learn in the lessons as well as excited to practice at home, while also making steady progress, of course. While the practical aspects of music are essential for a good lesson plan, such as developing good technical skills, the historical context of music should not be overlooked. Integrating music history into your lesson plan is essential in helping students gain a more comprehensive understanding of the music they are playing, the cultural significance, and its evolution over time.
One of the main benefits of including music history into your lessons is that your students will appreciate what they’re working on at a whole new level. Understanding the historical context of a piece of music, helps students better connect with it on a personal level. For instance, the knowledge that Mozart composed his famous opera, The Marriage of Figaro, in a time of political and social uprising in Europe adds depth and significance to the listening and learning experience. Through this context, students develop a deeper appreciation for the artistic choices made by the composer and performers.
Music history can also expand your students’ knowledge of the different genres of music. The history of music inherently creates a timeline for the evolution of different musical styles, from medieval chant to modern pop music. With this timeline involved in your lesson plan, students can examine how each genre of music emerged and evolved. Students can also learn about the cultural and social events that led to different styles of music being popular, allowing them to appreciate different musical traditions and the diversity of musical expression.
Music history can also help students improve their critical listening skills. It can be part of your lesson plan to have students listen for specific characteristics of a piece that are indicative of the time period in which it was composed. For example, Baroque music is known for intricate polyphonic textures and ornate ornamentation, while Romantic music is known for expressive melodies and harmonies. Working on identifying these characteristics will engage your students more as well as get them more interested in what you’re working on.
In addition to the benefits for your students, incorporating music history into your music lesson plan can also help you as a music teacher! Music instructors who have a strong understanding of music history are likely better equipped to provide their students with a more well-rounded music education. The comprehensive and contextual understanding of the different genres of music that they can provide their students, makes a quite impactful difference in the learning experience. Teachers who have a wider cultural and historical perspective when it comes to music can also invoke a passion for music in their students, which can, in turn, help them develop their musical abilities more fully.
When it comes to incorporating music history into your lesson plan, you have a plentiful amount of methods at your disposal. One approach is to bring the historical context of a piece of music to life by highlighting the life and work of the composer. For example, if you are teaching a piece by Franz Liszt, you should delve into Liszt’s life, his influences, as well as the political and social circumstances that surrounded his work during the specific time that the piece was published. This approach will help students better understand the compositional choices made by the composer and how their life and experiences may have influenced their work. Another approach is to play recordings from different genres of music, from different time periods, and from different composers to discuss the stylistic characteristics and choices. Additionally, you can assign readings or videos that provide historical context as homework for your students to reflect upon and discuss in their next lessons.
Consider integrating music history into your students’ lesson plan and then watch them flourish as this is an essential component of music education. Music is embedded in culture and is always evolving as such! You’ll be doing your students a favor by broadening their cultural awareness as well as their musical awareness. Whether teaching classical, jazz, rock, pop, or any other genre of music, music history should be an integral part of your lesson plan as a music educator.