Sequence for concepts is a really big thing that doesn’t get talked about often. If you are struggling to figure out what’s next, let’s chat about how you develop a sequence. Creating your own only works if you’ve had the time, and opportunity, to take tons of songs and analyze them and put them into a logical sequence for your students. Otherwise, there are some common sequences that really work.
Common Sequences
There are a couple of really common sequences that most people use.
Rhythm
- Ta/TiTi/Ta Rest Start – Starting on quarter notes seems almost painfully obvious since the align with the beat. There are pretty basic chants and songs with lots of eighth note action so the quarter/eighth pattern becomes one of the most used and obvious starting places. The key here is picking songs and chants so that children can really use the rhythms in practice.
Solfege
- Sol/Mi – The one we use because when the Kodaly “method” was adapted people used the same sequence that was being used in Hungary. Hungarian folk music had these as a predominant feature. However…
- Do/Re/Mi – is really common in American folk music that came from the English/Irish/Scottish/French backgrounds.
What’s my take? I use Sol/Mi with younger students. I think that enough work has been done to make this sequence work. Not only are parents not singing as many traditional songs to their kids so they aren’t getting that built up in their brains, I also like the idea of starting with just two notes that can transition from high/low to sol/mi. I also think that the ssmlsm sing songy pattern that kids use to tease each other is something that makes this pattern accessible as well.
For “older beginners” – students that have not learned music in the Kodaly method yet (or rather how to read/use solfege), I think Do-Re-Mi is a good place. It doesn’t sound as sing songy and third graders for example aren’t going to be turned off by using “baby songs”.
What works for you
Knowing this is what a fairly common sequence looks like, I will say that sometimes you have to adapt. If you are in a school with predominantly English Language learners, and you regularly use music from their home countries that have different tonal commonalities, then maybe it’s worth changing it up.
Other Concepts
Things like dynamics, terms, tempos, etc, still have a place in a sequence but they don’t necessarily need the long time planning as rhythm and melody. Break down these ones by how they fit with what you are using. If you are introducing more tempos, add tempo language as age appropriate: EX: K – fast/slow, 1 – presto/largo 2 andante, and add in more complete terms as they get older.
Other Things to Consider
Orders for things like mallet concepts. Which percussion instruments to introduce. When to introduce terms like symphony or orchestra. These are dependent on what you want your students to know or if you have activities they participate in. If you introduce a new composer who wrote symphonies, tell them what those are. If you are going to see an orchestra, talk about orchestra vs concert band vs rock band. What instruments are involved.
For instruments talk big picture first. Families, then well known instruments, then lesser known, then specialty variations like contrabass saxophones.
Map it out
The last step of the puzzle here is to create a list of all those topics and concepts you want your students to know by the time they leave your classroom in 5th grade (or the last grade you have them). Put the concepts in order. Then assign to a grade level.
Some Help
This curriculum planner includes
- Scope and Sequence template
- Scope and Sequence – done for you K-5 (based on Kodaly methodology)
- Concept Plan template
- Lesson Plan template
- Monthly Curriculum Map – done for you K-5
- Monthly Curriculum Map template
- A list of Music and Heritage events throughout the year
- An editable list of music education concepts to cover
- Year at a glance pages including a place for your personal items
- Undated calendar
- Grade level concepts at a glance pages
- Song Analysis Template – A place for you to do a quick analysis of the music you want to use in the classroom
- Song List – A huge, editable list of songs to teach rhythm and melodic concepts
I hope this helps!
