Tempo (Andante, Allegro, Largo) - Grade 1 - Activity 2

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Arts Education

Grade(s)

1

Overview

Students will listen to music of various tempos including andante, allegro, and largo. They will aurally identify the three different tempos using body movement.

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 1 - Music

AE17.MU.1.8

Demonstrate knowledge of music concepts in music from a variety of cultures selected for performance.

UP:AE17.MU.1.8

Vocabulary

Rhythm
  • Quarter note, quarter rest, paired eighth notes
  • Strong/ weak beat
  • Steady beat/ rhythm
  • Allegro/ adagio
Melody
  • Pitch set: Mi, So, La
  • Steps/ skips/ repeated notes
  • Melodic direction
  • Modified staff
  • Line notes and space notes
Harmony/ texture
  • Rhythmic ostinati
  • Simple bordun
Form
  • AB, ABA
Expression
  • Legato, staccato
  • Piano (p), forte (f)
  • Classroom instrument classifications
  • Clarinet, trombone, cello, drum
  • Orchestral music: ballet
  • Non-Western music celebrations
Other
  • Proper singing posture
  • Age-appropriate pitch matching (C4 - C5)1
  • Mallet/ drumming technique — hands together

Essential Questions

EU: Analyzing creators' context and how they manipulate elements of music provides insight into their intent and informs performance.
EQ: How does understanding the structure and context of musical works inform performance?

Skills Examples

Performing
  • Sing or play music with attention to expressive elements such as dynamics and articulation
  • Perform music from a variety of cultural traditions, focusing on holidays and special days.
Creating
  • Create new verses for familiar songs.
  • Use manipulatives or movement to inform melodic contour.
Reading/ Writing
  • Write rhythmic phrases that include quarter notes and paired eighth notes using standard or iconic notation.
  • Read rhythmic phrases containing quarter notes, quarter rests, and paired eighth notes using standard or iconic notation.
  • Indicate melodic contour using manipulatives such as yarn, or by drawing lines that reflect the melodic contour.
  • Identify expressive markings in printed music.
Responding/ Evaluating
  • Determine the appropriate dynamics and articulation for different types of music (ex.
  • March = staccato, forte; lullaby = legato, piano).

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.

Learning Objectives

Students will demonstrate knowledge of the music concept, tempo, by aurally identifying andante, allegro, and largo in a musical excerpt.

Activity Details

Begin by reviewing previously learned definitions of three tempos: andante, allegro, and largo.

Play the Tempo Video for students and ask them to pat the air with their fingers to the beat as they listen. The video contains tempos other than the three focus tempos. I have time stamped the three tempos used in this lesson. You may choose to use the whole video or just the time-stamped sections.

Play again the sections of the video that focus on the tempos andante (2:53), allegro (1:57), and largo (0:35). Ask students to pat their hands in the air above their head for allegro, at their waist for andante, and down low for largo.

Play excerpts of various music at different tempos and ask students to show the tempo by patting their hands as before.

Assessment Strategies

Observe students and reteach as necessary.

Variation Tips

Students can move around the room to the beat and choose their own ways to express each tempo.

Background / Preparation

Projector or interactive whiteboard needed for showing video.

Pull up video in advance and select several songs to play excerpts.

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