1

ChristineStinchi
MUSED341,Fall2015
WorldMusicintheElementaryGeneralMusicClassroom
December16th,2015

DiscoveringtheMusicofChina
ThirdGrade

IchosetostudytheChineseculturebecausesincetravelingtoChinaafewyearsagoto
meetmysister,Ihavebeeninterestedinthecultureandmusicaltraditionsofthiscountry.Ido
notknowmuchaboutthemusicaltraditionsoftheChineseculture,whichiswhyIchoosethis
country.Ithinkthathavingknowledgeaboutthelanguagewillbeveryhelpfulforme,especially
whenIsingthesongsthatIwillteachinMandarin.IstudiedMandarinthroughouthighschool
andknowseveralsongsinChinese,includingsomefromachildrensCD.Ihavebeensinging
ChinesesongsinMandarinwithmysevenyearoldsister,andseeinghowmuchsheenjoys
singingthesesongshasinspiredmetolearnmoreaboutChinesemusicandthemusical
traditionsfromChina.
MusicisaninnatepartoftheChinesepeopleslives.Theyviewmusicasawaytofoster
amorevirtuousliving(TheLionsRoar7).Thebeliefisthatmusichasmanymeaningsin
oneslife,suchasthephilosophical,cosmologicalandeducationalmeanings.Musictakesplace
duringfestivals,plantingandharvestcelebrations,rituals,feasts,weddingsandfunerals.
TherearefourlargeperiodsthatmakeupChinasmusicalculturalhistory.Theformative
periodisthefirstperiod,whichbeganinthethirdcenturyB.C.TheZhoudynastywaswhen
Chinesemusicwasformed,includingmusicstheoreticalandphilosophicalbackground.
Scholarsthoughtthatthemusic,whichwassystematicallyarranged,wouldbeawaytoregulate
peopleandinworshipingthegods.Havingagoodeducationduringthisperiodwasvery
important.TheideaoftheWesternRenaissancemancouldbecomparedtotheChinesemen
whoweretaughtarts,includinghavingtoatleastknowmusic.Musicduringtheformative
peoplewasusedforrituals,andfeaturedbronzebells,stonechimes,theqinstringedinstrument,
themouthorganwithpipes,andpanpipes.
Thesecondperiod,theinternationalperiod,ranfromthethirdcenturyB.C.tothetenth
centuryA.D.Musicduringthisperiodwasforentertainmentpurposes,ratherthanforrituals.
Duringthisperiod,musicianswereinterestedinbringingnewinstrumentsandnewideasfrom
areassuchasCentralAsiaandIndiatoChina,becauseofthegrowthofBuddhism.Thepipa,a
fourstringedlute,wasanewinstrumentthatcameaboutduringthistime.Newmusicideas
broughtaboutorchestrasanddances,suchastheribbondanceandtheliondance.
Thethirdperiod,thenationalperiod,whichranfromthetenthcenturythroughthe
nineteenthcentury,wasatimewhentheChinesemindwasnotopentonewideas.Thiswas
mostlyduetotheTangdynasty'sopenness,whichtheChinesewerenotfondof.Therefore,they

wrotemusicfollowingtheirownmusicalgenres.Chineseoperawasalltherage,andamongthe
fewhundredgenresofChineseoperas,Kunoperafeaturesmusic,lyrics,anddancing.Itisalso
knownasbeingavocalcounterparttotheqin,which,intheeyesofascholar,hadbecomethe
kingofallinstruments.Theqinisanextremelyimportantpartofascholarslife,andisregarded
asasymboloflearning.
Thefinalperiodistheworldmusicperiod,whichwasatimewhenthetraditional
Chineseculturefacedadeclineduetopoliticalandsocialreasons.Therefore,Westernideas
cameinbyafewdifferentmediums.OnewaywasthroughtheChristianmissionarymovement.
Another,throughthereformedmilitaryband,whichwasrenamedtheWesternmilitaryband.
Thethirdwaywasthroughthenewschoolsystem,atimewhentheChinesereformedtheir
educationalsystembecausetheythoughtitwasweakeningtheircountry.Thishugechangealso
hadaneffectonmusicians,therefore,theChinesebeganorganizingorchestras,andthefirst
conservatorybeganinShanghaiin1927.
Chinesemusicisprogrammatic,symbolic,andisrelatedtoextramusicalmatters.A
commonmisconceptionofChinesemusicisthatitfeaturesalotofevenrhythms.Eventhough
therearemanysongsinduplemeter,therearealsosomeintriplemeterandinameterwithone
beat.Also,alotofChinesesongscontainsyncopation,withirregular,roughrhythms.Themusic
maybedelicate,however,loudpercussionensemblemusiciscommonduringcelebrations.
ThereareseveralscalesthatareusedtowriteChinesemusic.Pentatonicandseventonescales,
includingtheGong,Shang,Jiao,ZhiandtheYuscalearethemosttypicalscalesthatChinese
musicisfocusedaround.TherearethreeinstrumentsthatareseenasrepresentingChinese
culture:theqin,thepipa,andtheerhu,atwostringedChineseviolin.(KuoHuangHan).

Bytheendofthisunit,studentswill
1. LearnfourwellknownChinesesongs
2. Beabletopatorsteptothebeatinthesongs,and/orchantandtapouttherhythmor
wordsinMandarin.
3. Playacirclegameencouragingthestudentstogettoknoweachother
4. Playpercussioninstrumentstoaccompanyarhythmicchant
5. Playmelodylinesonrecorders
6. PerformaChineseRibbondance
7. Halftheclasswillsingasongwhiletheotherhalfwillperformthepercussion
accompaniment
8. Composeanintroductionandacodaforthepercussionensemble

LessonPlan#1

Grade:
3rd
Duration:4050minutes
NationalMusicStandards
:(Create,Perform,Respond,Connect)

Repertoire:
HaoPengYou(LookingforaFriend)
OtherTeachingMaterials:
Mandarinlyricsandtranslationprojected,music
NewVocabulary:
Mandarinlanguage,Chinesetones,
erhu,
heterophonic
texture,unison

LessonObjectives:
Studentswill
patorstepthebeattothemusic,listeningforthetwonotemelody
patternthatisrepeated
learnthewordsinMandarin
learnthesonginrotefashionandthensingthesonginMandarin
playacirclegame,whichencouragesstudentstogettoknoweach
otheratthebeginningoftheschoolyear

TeachingProcedure
Prepare
1. EnterclassbyspeakinginChinese.Makemyselffeelawkward.The
morethebetter!
2. Oh,Imsosorry,IwasinChinaforasecond!
3. InChina,MandarinisoneoftwodialectsspokeninChina.Didyou
knowthateverywordintheChineselanguageisspokenwitha
specifictone?Thereare4tones.
4. (Giveanexampleofeachtoneusingthepinyin:Ma)
5. Itisimportanttosayeachwordwiththecorrecttone.Forexample,
usingthefirsttoneontheword,Ma,whichsoundslike,Ma1,
meansmother.Usingthethirdtoneontheword,Ma,which
soundslike,Ma3,meanshorse.Youwanttobecarefulthatyoudo
notcallyourmotherahorse!
6. Today,wewillbelearningasonginChinese,andthepitcheswe
singwillbethetones.

Present
1. The
erhu
isatwostringedChineseviolin.InmanyChinesefolk
songsthatareaccompaniedbyaninstrument,theycreatea
heterophonictexture.Thismeansthattheinstrumentorvoicewill
giveasmallembellishmenttothemelody.However,inthissong,the
erhu
andvoiceareinunison.Doesanyoneknowwhatunison
means?(Explainifnot.)
2. Iwillplaytheentiresong(dosotwice)Iwantyoutopatorstepthe
beattothemusic,listeningforthetwonotemelodypatternthatis
repeated
3. Iwillsingthesong(withoutthebackgroundmusic)
4. (Saythelyricswithvoiceinflectionandwithrhythm)
5. (Teachthelyricswithvoiceinflectionandwithrhythm)
(Chunking).Afewwordsarespokenatatime.
Say,Repeatafterme.
Asmanytimesuntiltheycansayit.Ifstudentssayaword
wrong,fixit.
6. Now,Iwantyoutorepeatafterme(lineoneandtwo,thenlinethree
andfour)
7. Thistime,IwillplaytheentiresongagainandIsingalong.Listen
carefully!
8. (Teachthelyricswithmelodyinrhythm)(Chunking)onelineata
time:
(SingnoteonMmtocheckpitch).
st
1
line:sayonA,Thisisthefirstnote,Isingfirstandthen
yourepeatafterme.Cuethemin.
nd
2
line:sayonA,Thisisthesamepitch,andIamgoingto
singfirstandthenyourepeatafterme.
rd
3
line:sayonD,Thisisadifferentpitch,andIamgoing
tosingfirstandthenyourepeatafterme.
Asmanytimesuntiltheycansayit.
9.(Chunklineoneandtwo,thenlinethreeandfour)
10.Letssingtheentiresong!(andIsingwiththem).

Practice&Extend
1. Now,wearegoingtoplayagame!Letsallstandinacircle
2. Ineedonevolunteerwhowillbeit.Ouritwillmoveina
stephopmotion,alternatingtheirfeetaroundthecirclein
counterclockwisedirection(Rstep/RhopLstep/Lhopcount1

&2&).Attheendofthesong,itwillstopinfrontofachildand
addsthechildtotheitline.Thenthenewchildholdsontoits
shoulderswithhis/herhandsandmakesatrainformation.
3. Wewillcontinuetosingthesongoverandoveruntilithaschosen
allofthechildreninthecircle.Aseachnewchildisselectedthenew
childisaddedtotheendofthetrain.

Assess&Close
IwillassessstudentsparticipationinlearningtheMandarinwords,
thenthesong,andfinallyintheirparticipationinplayingthecircle
game.Mandarinisaverychallenginglanguagetolearn,soIwillnot
assessmuchofthestudentsspeakingorsingingthelyrics.Iwill
however,listentothestudentsabilitytosingthepitchesinthesong.
Closingstatement:
Wonderfuljob,thirdgraders!TheMandarinlanguageisvery
challenging,soeventryingyourbesttolearnalittlebitofthis
languagecanbereallyfun!Rememberthatyoucanplaythiscircle
gamewithnewfriendsduringrecesstime,too!

LessonPlan#2

Grade:
3rd
Duration:4050minutes
NationalMusicStandards
:(Create,Perform,Respond,Connect)

Repertoire:
TheFlatBeakedDuck
OtherTeachingMaterials:
Thechantverseprojected,drums,woodblocks,
andgongs
NewVocabulary:
Mandarinwords

LessonObjectives:
Studentswill
keepasteadypulseonlaps
learnwordsinMandarin
rhythmicallychantthewordsinMandarininrotefashion(with
Chinesetones)
playpercussioninstrumentstoaccompanytherhythmicchant

TeachingProcedure
Prepare
1. TodaywewillbelearningaChinesechantthatmanyChinese
childrenknow!Lateronwewilladdpercussioninstrumentswhile
wechant.
2. Thechantiscalled,TheFlatBeakedDuck.Iwantyoutokeepa
steadypulseonyourlapswhileIchant.Remembertolistencarefully
becauseIwillteachittoyounext.
3. ThewordsinChinesetranslatetomean,Theducksbeakisflat.He
drinkshotwateralldaylong.Thehotwaterburnshismouth.The
watertravelstohisstomach,gurglegurglingallthewaydown.

Present
1. (PutChinesewordsonthescreen)Seehowaboveeachword,thereis
anarrow?ThatshowsthedifferenttonesthattheChineselanguage
uses.EachwordinChinesewillhaveatone.
2. Iwantyoukeepthesamesteadypulseonyourlapswhileyouto
listentomechantandwatchthegesturesthatImake.(Gestureswill
indicatetheriseandfallofthepitches)

Practice&Extend
1. IthinkyouarenowreadytolearnthewordsinChinese!Listen
carefullyandrepeatafterme.(Gothroughhalfalineatatime,then
linebyline,thentwolinesatatime...untilstudentscangothrough
thewholechant)
2. Now,Ithinkwhatwouldmakethisevenmorefunisbyaddingsome
percussioninstruments!
3. Takealookatthescreen,thewordsthathaveabluemarkoverthem
meanstherewillbewoodblocks.Thewordsthathaveapinkline
overthemmeanstherewillbeagong.
4. Ineedsomestudentstokeepthesteadypulseontheirlaps
throughoutthechant.Yourpartisespeciallyimportantbecauseit
helpskeepuschantingtogetherandplayingthewoodblocksand
gongattherighttime.
5. Iwantyoutoplaythepercussionpart,whileIchant.Herewego!
6. Finally,youtrychantingandplayingthepercussionparts.Illchant,
too!

Assess&Close
IwillassessstudentsparticipationinlearningtheMandarinwords
forthechant,andintheirparticipationinplayingthepercussion
instruments.Iwillbeawareofifstudentsareplayingtheir
instrumentatthecorrecttime.
Closingstatement:
Greatjob,thirdgraders,withchantingwordsinMandarin!Whatwas
themostchallengingpartoftodayslesson?Playingpercussionand
chantingtogethercanbeverychallenging!Whatpartdidyouenjoy
themost?ManykidsyourageinChinaenjoythis,andIhopeyou
didtoo!

10

11

LessonPlan#3

Grade:
3rd
Duration:4050minutes
NationalMusicStandards
:(Create,Perform,Respond,Connect)

Repertoire:
CaiquiWu(FlowerballDance)
OtherTeachingMaterials:
Musicprojected,triangle,setofwoodblocks,
recorders,crepepaperorscarves
NewVocabulary:
Mandarinwords,
luogu
,
di
,Chineseribbondance

LessonObjectives:
Studentswill:
learnaboutmusicoftheLuogupercussionensemble
listentothesongCaiquiWuwhilefollowingnotation
discussthecomplexornamentationthatincreasesineachversionof
themelody
listentothesongandclap/taptherhythmofthewoodblockpart
Chantandtaptherhythmofthewoodblockusingdaorgo
syllables.Onthefirstpulseofeachmeasureaddthebellortriangle.
Singtheflutemelodyfromonaneutralsyllable
Playthefirstversionofthemelodyonrecorders,andmoreskilled
studentscanplayversionstwoandthree.
Combinethepercussionandrecordersandplayallversions(if
possible)
PerformaChineseribbondancetoshowthetwomeasurephrases

TeachingProcedure
Prepare
1. Musicfromthe
Luogu
percussionensembleismadeupofcymbals,
drums,gongs,andotherpercussioninstruments.InChinese,Luois
thetermforcoper,zinc,andtinandguisthetermforallsortsof
Chinesedrums.Luoguisthemusicofthepeopleandisfilledwith
energy.
2. Luoguisthemusicofparades,festivities,andreligiousrituals.Itis
alsoperformedasdramatictheatremusic,andintemples.
3. InChina,thereisafolkdancewhosemainpropisabig,silkflower
thatisheldinbothhandsbythedancer.Themusicsmelodyis

12

playedbythe
di
,whichisafluteandthewoodblockandtriangleor
belladdtotherhythmandphrasestructureofthemusic.
4. IwillplaythesongandIwantyoutolistencarefullyandfollow
alongtothenotationonthescreen.
5. Didanyonenoticeanythingaboutthemelodyspart?Perhaps
somethingaboutitthatchangedthroughouteachversion?Please
raiseyourhandtoshare.(Iftheyhavenoideasyet,pointoutthatthe
partbecamemoreandmorecomplex.)

Present
1. Now,letslistenagainandIwantyoutoclaptherhythmofthe
woodblockpart.
2. Great!Now,insteadofclappingthewoodblockpart,Iwantyouto
chanttherhythmusingthedasyllable,whilealsotappingthe
rhythmonyourlap.
3. Good!Letstrysingingtheflutemelodyonaloosyllable.
4. CanIhaveavolunteertoplaythetriangle?Awesome!Iwantyouto
followthetrianglepart,andplay!Everyoneelse,arewereadyto
singtheflutepartonLooandtapthewoodblockrhythmonour
laps.

Practice&Extend
1. Ithinkwearereadytoplaythefirstversionofthemelody(theflute
part)onourrecorders!Letsplaytwomeasuresatatime.Iplay,then
yourepeat.(continuethroughversion1).
2. Goodwork!Ineedanothervolunteerforourtrianglepart,and
someoneelsetoplaythewoodblockpart.Iwouldloveforusto
combinethesepartswithplayingthemelodyonourrecorders!Lets
tryit!

Assess&Close
1. Ithinkweshouldtrysomethingevenmorefun!
2. (Handouteitherpiecesofcrepepaperandtielongpiecestoeach
studentswrist,orgivethemlongscarvestohold)
3. Now,movetheribbons(orscarves)gracefullyinhigh,arching
curves,figureeights,orcircles.
4. Verygood!Letssingtheflutemelodyonaloosyllable(have
versiononeprojected).Whilewearesinging,wearegoingperforma
Chineseribbondance!Moveyourribbonsinawaythatshowsthe

13

twomeasurephrases.Youcanalsomovethemincurvedlinesto
showtheriseandfallofthemelody.

Assess&Close
IwillassessstudentsparticipationinengagingwiththequestionI
raisedatthebeginningofthelesson(regardingthechangeinthe
complexityofthemelody).Also,clapping,chantingandsingingthe
differentpartswillhelpmeassesstheirrhythm.Havingthestudents
singthemelodylineonaneutralsyllableatfirstwillallowmetosee
theirabilitytosightsingandtheirpitchaccuracyskills.Then,
transferringthatskillintoplayingversiononeontheirrecorders.
WhenIhavesomestudentsplayingrecorders,oneplayingtriangle,
andanotherplayingthewoodblockpart,Iwillbeawareofif
studentsareplayingtheirinstrumentatthecorrecttime(esp.the
percussion).Finally,Iwilldeterminehowengagedthestudentsare
inperformingtheChineseribbondance.
Closingstatement:
Goodjob,thirdgraders,withlearningthe
CaiqiuWu
:Flowerball
Dance!Thisisacomplexpiece,butwebrokeitapartbylearningthe
rhythm,themelodyandpercussionpartstohelpuslearnit.Itcanbe
reallyhelpfultobreakchallengingpiecesuplikethissoitisnotso
hard.Whatwasyourfavoritepartabouttodayslesson?Ilovedyour
enthusiasminperformingtheChineseFlowerballDance,andIthink
yourfamilyandourschoolcommunitywillenjoyseeingthisatour
finalperformanceinafewweeks!

14

15

LessonPlan#4

Grade:
3rd
Duration:4050minutes
NationalMusicStandards
:(Create,Perform,Respond,Connect)

Repertoire:
FengYangHuaKu(TheFlowerDrumSong)
OtherTeachingMaterials:
Musicprojected
NewVocabulary:
Mandarin
words,composinganaccompaniment,composinganintroduction,
composingacoda

LessonObjectives:
Studentswill:
LearnFengYangHuaKu(TheFlowerDrumSong)inrotefashion
bychantingtherhythmandwordsinrote
Learnthepitchesinrotefashion
Singthesonginphrasesandtheninitsentirety
Workinsmallgroupstocreateabodypercussionaccompaniment
(eg.clap,pat,stamp,snap)tothechant.
Singthesongwhilegroupssharetheircomposedbodypercussion
accompaniment
Workinsmallgroups,someofwhichwillcomposeanintroduction
andsomewillcomposeacodaforthepercussionensemble
(Withtheirgroup),sharetheintroductionsandcodasthatthey
composedwiththerestoftheclass
Performthenewintroductionsandcodaswiththesong

TeachingProcedure
Prepare
TodayisourlastlessononChinesemusic,soIthoughtwewould
learnasongcalled,
FengYangHuaKu
,whichmeansTheFlower
DrumSong.YouaresuchquickChineselanguagelearners,thatI
decidedtoteachasongtoyouandthenIthoughtitwouldbefunto
composeapercussionpart!

Present
1. Letsbeginbylearningthesong.First,Iwillteachyouthepartof
thesongthatisinChinese.Wewillspeakthewordsfirst.
2. Listencarefully(Ispeakthroughlinethreeandfour).

16

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Listenandrepeatafterme(Chunking).
Listencarefully(Isingthroughlinethreeandfour).
Listenandrepeatafterme(Chunking).
NowIwillsingthepartthatisinEnglish.Listencarefully.
Listenandrepeatafterme(Chunking).
Letssingthroughtheentiresong!

Practice&Extend
1. Greatsinging!Iamgoingtocounttofive,andbythetimeIgetto
five,youshouldbeinasmallgroup.
2. Iwantyoutoworkinsmallgroupstocreateabodypercussion
accompanimenttothechant.Youcanuseclapping,patting,
stamping,snappinginthisaccompaniment.
3. Now,wewillgoaroundandsharethedifferentgroups
accompaniments.Letsstartwiththisgroup(pointtoagroup).
Everyoneelse,pleasesingthesongwhilethegroupsharestheir
composedbodypercussionaccompaniment.(Continuewithother
groups)
4. Iwantyoutoworkinsmallgroupsagain,andthesegroups(pointto
afewgroups)willcomposeanintroductionandsomewillcomposea
codaforthepercussionensemble.Insteadofmakingupapercussion
partfortheintroductionandcodasections,trymakingupnewlyrics
inEnglish.Theneachgroupwillshare!
5. Now,wewillgoaroundandsharethedifferentgroups
compositions.Letsstartwiththisgroup(pointtoagroup).Everyone
else,pleaseberespectful,stayingquietandlisteningtoyourfriends.

Assess&Close
Iwillassessstudentsparticipationinlearningthesong,aswellas
theirparticipationinworkinginasmallgrouptocompose.Iwillalso
assessingtheirengagementwithgroupwork,andinsharingtheir
compositionswiththeclass.Atthebeginningofthisfourlesson
sequence,Ididnotassessmuchofthestudentsabilitytospeakor
singingthelyricscorrectly.However,Iwilltrytodeterminehow
muchthestudenthasgrownoverthecourseoffourweeksin
learningsomeMandarin.Iwill,listenandassessthestudentsability
tosingthepitchesaccuratelyinthesong.

17

ClosingStatement:
Wonderfulcompositions!Ithinkweshouldperformthenewintroductions
andcodaswiththesong.Letsstartwiththisgroupsintroduction(pointtoa
group),andthenwewillsingwhatisuponthescreen,andthenendwith
thisgroupscoda(pointtoagroup).(Continuethroughallgroups
compositions).Greatjobtoday!Iam
really
lookingforwardtoseeingyou
performthisforyourfamiliesandschoolcommunityinourperformance
nextweek!ThanksforjoiningmeindiscoveringthemusicofChina!

18

19

DiscoveringtheMusicofChinaAssessmentTool:

Iwillassessstudentslearningbyshowcasingalloftheirworkinafinalperformancethatwillbe
opentotheschoolcommunity.Thiswillgiveparents,familyandfriendstheopportunitytosee
howmuchtheirstudenthaslearnedabouttheChinesecultureandmusic,whilealsoallowingme
toassessthestudent'sgrowthandskilllevelinperformingwithinstruments,singing,and
chanting.
Thefinalperformancewillinclude:

SingingHaoPengYou

ChantingTheFlatBeakedDuckandperformwithdrums,woodblocksandgongs

PerformingCaiquiWu(FlowerballDance)withrecorders,woodblocks,andtriangle
performaChineseRibbonDance

SingingFengYangHuaKu(TheFlowerDrumSong)withthecomposedbody
percussionaccompanimentandwithcomposedintroductionsandcodas.

20

References

Books:
1. TeachingMusicwithaMulticulturalApproachbyKuoHuangHan
2. TheLionsRoar:ChineseLuoguPercussionEnsemblesbyHanKuoHuangand
PatriciaShehanCampbell
3. TunesandGroovesforMusicEducationbyPatriciaShehanCampbell
4. RootsandBranches:ALegacyofMulticulturalMusicforChildrenbyPatriciaShehan
Campbell,EllenMcCulloughBrabson,andJudithCookTucker

Recordings:
1. ShehuoGudien
2. LianXiQu

Websites:
1. http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/docs/lesson_plans/FLP10050_east_china.pdf
2. http://www.folkways.si.edu/discoveringeastchinaelementaryschool/lullabyvocaloutd
oorsoloprogrammatic/music/toolsforteaching/smithsonian