RUTHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HIGH Class 12 MUS Stage Stage 6 Curriculum Area Music Period Period 4 Topic Impressionism Date 15/08/2016 Teacher Miss C. Davis

Desired Results Syllabus Outcomes: H.2 Reads, interprets, discusses and analyses simple musical scores that are characteristic of the topics studied H.4 Articulates an aural understanding of musical concepts and their relationships in a wide variety of musical styles H.6 Critically evaluates and discusses the use of the concepts of music in works representative of the topics studied and through wide listening Understandings: Students will understand that…

• Impressionism was a movement of music and art in the early 20th Century

• Claude Debussy was a pioneer of Impressionism in music, while Monet was a pioneer of Impressionism in art

• Impressionist works evoke a time and a place • Impressionism uses many different and

unique techniques such as whole tone scales, modes, polyrhythm etc.

Essential Questions:

• What is the definition of Impressionism? • What features of Impressionism do you think

composers used the most in this movement? • In Voiles, what scale is Debussy primarily

basing his melody around? • What is meant by the term Ambiguous? • Describe the metre of this piece • List all the rhythm patterns/devices you can

hear/observe in the piece? • What expressive techniques are used, and can

you give a definition of them?

Students will know… • The definition of Impressionism: “a literary

or artistic style that seeks to capture a feeling or experience, rather than to achieve accurate depiction”

• How to identify the scale being used in the piece – Voiles

• The correct terminology to describe the concepts of music

Students will be able to… • Give a definition of Impressionism • Identify the features of Impressionism • Play the whole tone scale and explain what

notes make it up • Use the correct terminology to identify the

features of Voiles

Assessment Evidence Performance Task(s):

• Worksheet on Voiles – Concept Analysis • Aural Identification

Other Evidence: • Class discussion

Learning Plan Learning Activities:

1. Open the lesson with the question: “What is Impressionism?” à Students should have already studied early 20th Century music, and this question is to get them thinking about what they already know. Have a quick class discussion on Impressionism, focusing on Art and Music. Show some artworks so they may gain a basic idea (10mins)

2. Discuss the features of Impressionism – what scales were used, what tonalities were favoured, famous composers, melodic/rhythmic patterns etc. Having this discussion will aid in the listening activity (10mins)

3. Hand out worksheet and play the piece ‘Voiles’ – students are to be writing down their thoughts/ideas while listening. Each section of the worksheet has been split up into concepts of music to make it easier to navigate and organise their thoughts. (25mins, multiple listening’s will be required)

4. Remainder of the lesson will be spent going through all their answers and having a general discussion on Impressionism. (15mins)