Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, students will explore connections between music and visual art. Students will create a series of line drawings influenced by listening to several different genres of music.

Length of Lesson:

Four 45-minute periods

Instructional Objectives:

Students will:

• understand, describe, and interpret non-verbal language (auditory and visual).
• work in different media, such as drawing, collage (manipulative), and painting.
• explore the relationship between elements and principles—specifically, line, shape, and color, and their maximum and minimum contrast.
• observe and respond to the content in their work and in others' work.
• develop critical thinking skills (comparing, contrasting, and analyzing).

Supplies:

• 18" x 12" newsprint paper
• 18" x 12" white drawing paper (60 lb.)
• Pencils (3B to 8B)
• Erasers
• Recordings of various genres of music from around the world (Cuban music: both string instruments and percussion solos; flamenco; classical music, jazz, contemporary music, etc.)

Instructional Plan:

Day 3

Generate Ideas and Brainstorm

Discuss how to make connections between music and art. For example, expansive waves are created by sounds that travel in space until they are received by our auditory sense (ears). Our brain interprets the sound and instructs the body in the proper response; for example, instead of moving the whole body, we move the hand. Compare these sound waves to the organic lines in gesture drawings.

Warm Up

Ask students to use their left hands to tap on their desks while their rights hand draw in the air, using different movements (move diagonally, up, down, left, right, in circles, in zig-zags, etc.).

Synchronize the movements of both hands. When the left hand taps the table, the right hand should move. Students should try different speeds: first tap very slow, then less slow; tap fast, then very fast.

Discuss how different motions or tapping affected hand motion drawing.

Teacher Demonstration

Play music in the background, in the following order:

• cuban music (drums)
• cuban music (strings)
• flamenco
• classical music
• jazz
• contemporary music

Following the melody, draw in the air with the right hand. Start a gesture drawing on paper using organic lines. The pencil mark may be fast, slow, light, dark, smooth, rough, or broken, depending upon rhythm and tempo.

Student Work

Students should create 6 gesture drawings per class using 18" x 12" (or smaller) newsprint paper. This exercise may be repeated the next class period (Day 2) if necessary to increase student understanding. The goal is for students to make visual connections to their auditory experiences.

Have students discuss the experience, referring to their own drawings.

Closure and Cleanup

Review what the class has accomplished. On a bulletin board, display different gesture drawings that show student understanding of the exercise. Point out pencil marks that enhance the visual movement depicted.

Preview what the students will be working on next—straight and curved lines.

For the cleanup procedure, ask for student volunteers to store work on appropriate shelves.

Day 4

Review Audio and Visual Connections

In the background, play music that contains strings and percussion instruments.

Explain today's exercise: drawing with straight and curved lines. Review audio and visual connection gesture drawings.

Exercise #1: Straight Lines

Play flute and/or guitar solo music in the background. Using 18" x 12" newsprint paper, fill the page with straight lines only. The lines can be horizontal, or diagonal. Move from one edge of the paper to the opposite side.

Cleanup

Ask for student volunteers to store work on appropriate shelves.

Day 5

Exercise #2: Curved Lines

Play music containing drum solos in the background. Using 18" x 12" newsprint paper, fill the page with curved lines only. The lines can be positioned vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Move from one edge of the paper to the opposite side.

Ask for student volunteers to store work on appropriate shelves.

Day 6

Exercise #3: Curved and Straight Lines

Play classical music or jazz in the background. Using 18" x 12" newsprint paper, fill the page with curved and straight lines only. The directions of lines can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. Move from one edge of the paper to the opposite side.

Closure and Cleanup

Review what the class has accomplished. On a bulletin board, display different gesture drawings that show the understanding of the exercise. Check for understanding of the vocabulary of lines by doing an informal check during the work session.

Ask students:

• "Besides curved and straight lines, what else can you find in the drawings?"
• "What other lines can you see (zig-zag, spiral, converged, parallel, intermittent lines, etc.)?

Preview what students will be working on next—paper cut-outs.

For the cleanup procedure, ask for student volunteers to store work on appropriate shelves.

Assessment:

At the end of the unit, Making Connections Between Music and Art, evaluate student performance based on this Self-Assessment Guide.

Extensions:

Go onto the third lesson in the Rhythm and Art unit: Rhythm Collage.

Authors:

• Teresa Ghiglino, Studio Art - AP
  Bell Multicultural Senior High
  Washington, DC