Anchor Standards and Indicators

 ANCHOR 3: Connect with a varied repertoire of music by exploring the relationships

between music and history and culture.

1. Cn.3.8.1 – Identify, describe, and perform the distinguishing characteristics of

musical works from a variety of genres, styles, historical periods, and cultures.

 ANCHOR 5: Listening and responding to a varied repertoire of music by describing,

interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating music and its elemental components.

1. LR.5.8.1 – Recall, explore, comprehend, and apply appropriate music vocabulary.

2. LR.5.8.2 – Identify elements of music and analyze and describe how they manifest in
a musical example.

Class Goals and Objectives

 Reinforce students’ knowledge of rhythm and meter.

 Enable students to aurally identify and perform rhythmic ostinatos.

Materials

 A recording of Holst’s “Mars” from The Planets

 Fragments of various songs containing and not containing ostinatos.

Procedures

1. Students and instructor will discuss what comes to mind when they think about the
planets.
2. Students will listen to a recording of “Mars” and follow along with the perception chart
to answer questions.
3. Students and instructor will go through the perception chart to check answers.
4. Students will listen to the beginning rhythm and attempt to answer the questions given
below the perception chart.
5. Students and instructor will discuss Mars (the planet)
Q: “Do you think the surface of Mars all looks the same like the moon or different
everywhere like Earth?”
6. Instructor will point out the rhythmic ostinato in relation to Mars and define rhythmic
ostinato.
7. Students will listen to fragments of various songs and begin clapping the rhythm if they
identify a rhythmic ostinato.
Optional Based on time:
8. Go back through the examples used and have students clap or pat the rhythmic ostinatos,
layering them on top of one another with small groups.
Assessment of Goals and Objectives

Assessment will occur through the completion of the perception chart to check their focus and
listening skills. They will also be assessed on identifying rhythmic ostinatos in various other
songs.

Follow up Lessons

Future lessons would focus on the difference between rhythmic and tonal ostinatos.
 “Mars” from The Planets
by Gustav Holst

Directions:

Listen to “Mars” by Gustav Holst and circle the statement in either column A or B that best
describes what you are hearing.

NUMBE A B
R
1 (0:00) The song begins quietly The song begins loudly

2 (0:30) The music gets loud and stays loud The music gets loud and then goes back down

3 (0:52) The instrument playing the melody changes The instrument playing the melody stays the
same
4 (1:11) There is a repetitive part underneath Everything being played is unique and new
everything
5 (1:24) The music feels shy or scared The music sounds triumphant or powerful

6 (1:45) The melody sounds straight and robotic The melody sounds uneven and rocking

7 (2:04) The repetitive part is still there The repetitive part is gone

8 (2:25) The trombone plays a new melody I’ve already heard this before

9 (2:59) The trumpets repeat the melody being played The trumpets play something unique

10 (3:23) The last chord sounds happy The last chord sounds sad or angry

BONUS:

How many beats are in each measure of this piece? _________________

Listen for the rhythm that repeats itself in the low instruments. Count how many notes you hear
on each beat and place that number of dots in the corresponding boxes below:

Meter 1 2 3 4 5
5
4