Music Connection

Standard: 3.12 Identify music terms related to dynamics in music, including

fortissimo (ff) and pianissimo (pp).

3.11 Identify the four families of instruments in an orchestra.
Objective: Through the use of a listening guide, students will demonstrate
knowledge of music terms and instruments of African-American Spirituals,
listing at least ten aspects of the music.
Activity:
Students will listen to Lonesome Valley, the spiritual sung by the
boys mother, as well as other African American spirituals.
o Richard Dyer-Bennett (1975). This CD contains a hauntingly
beautiful version of Lonesome Valley.
o Wade in the Water, Vol. 1: African American Spirituals: The

Concert Tradition (1994). This CD features spirituals by various

singers.
The teacher will introduce the listening activity.
The teacher will pass out a listening guide to each student. The
students will use this guide to make note of what they hear.
o This will include the musical instruments, tone of the singers,
how it makes them feel, and more.
The teacher will review with the class what a listening guide is.
o She will go over each section of the guide and how the students
are to write their thoughts, feelings, and important aspects of
the music.

Name____________________

Date______________

Music Listening Guide

1. How does this song selection make you feel?

2. Name two instruments you heard being played in the song.

3. What dynamic of music is this song written and performed in? How
does this impact the overall tone of the piece?

4. Why do you believe the mother chose to sing this song in her time
of worry?