Cultural and Historical Connections: The student understands music in relation to history and culture.

(MU. C.1.3.1.) knows the main characteristics of the music of various cultures, historical periods, genres, and composers.

(MU. C.1.3.2.) knows representative examples of various American music genres.

Students will select and sing a song from the Sacred Harp genre.

• Listen to recordings of Sacred Harp singing.
• Discuss the unique history of Sacred Harp or shape note singing in America. The preservation in the south and its current revival.
• Listen to recordings of shape note singing from the 1940s and 1980s and choose a song to sing.
• Acquire the music and sing the song.

1. Audio from slide and tape show
   http://www.floridamemory.com/OnlineClassroom/sacred_harp/documents.cfm
   
   
2. Audio from WPA
   http://www.floridamemory.com/OnlineClassroom/sacred_harp/documents.cfm
   
   

1. Activate prior knowledge.

Ask students:

• what they know about Sacred Harp singing.
• whether they have experience with Sacred Harp singing.
• what the notes look like.
• what they know about the history of Sacred Harp singing.
  
  

2. The Activity

• Listen to recordings of Sacred Harp singing.
• Discuss the unique history of Sacred Harp or shape note singing in America, the preservation of this tradition in the south and its current revival.
• Listen to recordings of shape note singing from the 1940s and 1980s and, as a group, choose a song to sing.
• Acquire the music and sing the song.

Do students know the main characteristics shape note singing? Do they know a representative example of shape note singing? Rate how well students achieve each goal.