Au Clair de la Lune – mallet instruments – music lesson – Orff instruments

This guided lesson walks students in grades 3–8 through playing “Au Clair de la Lune” on Orff instruments, one step at a time. Students warm up their voices, speak the rhythm, add body percussion, sing from iconic notation, practice with their mallets, and then play along with the recording. It works well if you’re new to teaching mallet instruments or want a clear sequence to follow.

What’s included

• A clickable table of contents
• 5 vocal exploration slides
• A slide for speaking the rhythm of “Au Clair de la Lune”
• A body percussion slide with audio
• A slide with iconic notation for singing “Au Clair de la Lune”
• 5 mallet warm-up slides with bar set-up, technique tips, steady beat practice, rhythm practice, and audio and a video link
• 2 play-along slides with audio
• Extension activity ideas
• Standard notation, plus colored notation for pitched percussion tubes or hand chimes
• Directions for use

Formats

• PDF
• Google Slides: A link is included in your download and lets you add your own copy to Google Drive.
• PowerPoint

Important

• Videos play through YouTube, so an internet connection is required.
• The presentation must be in presentation mode, in PowerPoint or Google Slides, for the clickable links and audio to work.

Ways to use it

• A first mallet lesson with a familiar song
• Use the same lesson with Boomwhackers™ or hand chimes, using the colored notation

Standards (NCAS)

• Performing: Anchor Standard 4 (select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation)
• Performing: Anchor Standard 5 (develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation)

From the blog

This blog post shares ideas for small ensembles with recorders, Orff instruments, Boomwhackers™, and singers. Read the post →

License & help

This purchase is for one teacher to use with their own students. Each teacher needs their own copy. See the full terms of sale →

Questions about downloading, printing, or Google Slides? Visit the FAQ →