Megan

Hendrix

MUED 301

Woodwind Tech Instructional Unit

Unit 1 Instrument assembly, care, embouchure and tone production on a Bb
Unit 2 Learn E, D, and C. Tunes by ear and improvising with those three pitches
Unit 3 Learn F and G. Tunes by ear and improvising with those 5 pitches
Unit 4 Learn B, A, G, and high F#. Introduce concept of a scale and learn tunes.
Unit 5 Learn B natural and C. Practice going across the break.
Unit 6 Practice improvising with the notes theyre equipped with (C and G scales)


Lesson Plans

Unit 1

Objectives: Students will properly put together a clarinet.
Procedure:
Have the students sit on the ground to reduce risk of dropping parts and
damaging the instrument
First the students will put the reed in their mouth to moisten (and to reduce
talking) while they put together the parts of the clarinet
o Make sure they know how fragile reeds are before they handle them
Start with the bell of the clarinet and push/twist the bell into the lower
section of the clarinet
Pick up the upper section of the clarinet, and make sure to show them where
to press down the tone hole to lift the bridge lots of supervision!
Twist the barrel onto the upper section
Insert the mouthpiece into the barrel. Align the open, flat side of the
mouthpiece with the register key on the upper section
Students will take the reed out of their mouths and align it on the mouthpiece
(just a hair over the edge of the mouthpiece). Place the ligature over the reed
and mouthpiece and secure it tightly.
Assessment: Students will show that their clarinets have been put together
correctly. Consider handing out a worksheet with the parts of the clarinet for them
to label.

Units 2-6

Objectives: Students will improvise on the notes and rhythms they learned in class.
Procedure:

Go over fingering and embouchure differences of the new notes

New rhythms should be introduced by clapping and/or singing first, then applying it
to the clarinets on a single pitch.
New notes should be introduced by singing first, then applying to the clarinets one
at a time
Go over the notes in a scale-wise fashion
Once new rhythms are comfortable, apply them to the new notes as well
Teacher will demonstrate an improvised melody and students will repeat it
Students will create their own improvised melodies using a mix of the new rhythms
and notes

Assessment: Students will complete a worksheet that has the fingerings for students
to fill in, as well as rhythms to dictate. Informal assessment includes the students
playing their improvisations for the class.