A Recipe for a Successful Lesson Plan by Lee Tian-Tee,

Jamie A. Bruno & Thomas A. Edwards

In our teaching experience we have learned that good lesson planning can be challenging. There are many different ways to approach lesson planning, which sometimes seems tedious. One way we have made lesson planning a more motivating and successful experience is to think of planning a good lesson like planning a good meal.

Of course, after all this, your meal needs to be well balanced. This is a well-rounded lesson plan. Try designing your lesson as three "courses." First, we have the appetizer, then the main course, and finally the dessert.

The beginning of your lesson is the appetizer. This section could include warm-ups, aural skill development, scales or sight-reading. These are important fundamentals because these skills will start students down the right path of becoming better musicians. Students also learn daily routines and disciplines that are required of them in life. The activities should tease the students' appetite for more music. It is a great time to focus their attention on music learning. The activities in the appetizer are used to pique student interest for the upcoming main course.

The main course is where the bulk of new music learning takes place. Some activities that could be included in this section are: hearing a new piece of music; studying musical interpretation; introduction of a new concept, such as tempo, dynamics, pitch or rhythm; applying a new technique or strategy, such as solfeggio; developing more sophisticated performance skills, such as better balance, intonation or technique. The main course works on concepts that take longer for students to master. Having clear objectives will help you present the concepts to your students. Also, like a good main course, you want to make sure you have enough ingredients and spices so that the meal is not bland. In the same way, the main course of your lesson should have enough variety so that the concepts are not boring. On the other hand, as having too many spices causes indigestion. Too many concepts can cause students to become overwhelmed and frustrated in their music learning. Students need to be successful in their learning for them to truly understand the concept.

In making a good lesson plan, it is good to have challenging concepts. Students need to be challenged so they feel they are accomplishing something meaningful. However, making concepts too difficult for students is like having an overcooked meal. In the opposite sense, activities too easy for students will cause boredom and complacency, which will lead to students being off-task. When students are on-task and achieving goals, they feel successful and enjoy the lesson.

Don't be afraid to include concepts in the dessert. The most creative teachers find a way to relate the dessert to the rest of the meal, thus this course reminds students of what they have just learned, in a pleasurable way. The most important aspect is that the students are having fun, and you are having fun too!

In conclusion, we have found that planning a successful lesson, like planning a good meal, can be fulfilling and enjoyable. Planning a lesson does not have to be a tedious and stressful experience, nor does it have to be thought of as only a serious or boring task. It is important that your students see you in a positive way, which comes from your providing appetizing, healthy, fulfilling lessons. When your students are successful and enjoy learning, your teaching will be easier and more enjoyable as well.

Editor's Note: This analogy was developed by Lee Tian-Tee, during his work as a graduate teaching assistant at University of the Pacific. Lee is now a band director and doctoral student in music education in Singapore. Jamie Bruno served as the collegiate representative for Bay Area CMEA during 1998-1999 and is student teaching this fall. Thomas (Tony) Edwards teaches instrumental and choral music in the Manteca Unified School District and is a graduate student at University of the Pacific.