Lesson Plans and Curricula

Electric Guitars: The Pursuit of Volume

How does an electric guitar work? How did this instrument come to exist? This multi-level lesson plan series for elementary, middle school and high school examines the technological and cultural history behind the electric guitar. New learning is applied to writing a compare-contrast paragraph (elementary), problem-solution essay (middle school) or persuasive essay (high school). These lesson plans incorporate language arts, science and music.

Introductory Lesson (all ages)
This lesson can be used to introduce age-specific lessons.

• Introduction to the Electric Guitar
  In this lesson, students learn to identify the different parts of the electric guitar. Students will look at and listen to examples of guitar innovations.
• Introduction to the Electric Guitar iTunes Playlist

Elementary Lesson

• Compare and Contrast Electric and Acoustic Guitars
  In this lesson, students compare and contrast acoustic and electric guitars. Students summarize their findings in a paragraph explaining the similarities and differences between the two types of guitars. This lesson builds on the knowledge gained in the Introduction to the Electric Guitar lesson.
• Compare and Contrast Electric and Acoustic Guitars iTunes Playlist

Middle School Lesson

• Problem-Solution Essay: Electrifying the Guitar
  In this lesson, students learn how the different parts of the electric guitar contribute to its unique sound. The development of the electric guitar is presented as a series of problems solved by various guitar innovators. This lesson builds on the earlier lesson Introduction to the Electric Guitar. This lesson would work as a teamed activity between language arts and science.
• Electrifying the Guitar iTunes Playlist

High School Lessons

• Innovation & Inspiration: The Technology that Made Electrification Possible
  In this lesson, students learn about technological innovations that enabled the development of the electric guitar. Students place guitar innovations on a timeline of technology and draw conclusions about the relationship between broad technological changes and their impact on music. This lesson builds on the Introduction to the Electric Guitar and borrows concepts from history and science.
• Smashing Boundaries: The Multicultural Development of the Electric Guitar
  In this lesson, students learn how different ethnic and racial groups in the United States have contributed to the development of the electric guitar. Students read a short essay and discuss the appropriateness of the electric guitar as a symbol of American culture. Then students suggest their own symbol of American culture and compare and contrast it with the electric guitar. This lesson builds on the Introduction to the Electric Guitar lesson and alludes to the technological innovations covered in Innovation & Inspiration. This lesson complements themes from U.S. History, civics, and music classes.
• Smashing Boundaries iTunes Playlist

Resources

• Electric Guitars: The Pursuit of Volume Resources
  This resource packet includes an overview of the curriculum, liner notes for all music referenced in the lesson plans, a guitar vocabulary list, a timeline template (see the Innovation and Inspiration lesson), and six color images of historic guitars from the EMP|SFM collection.
• Pursuit of Volume iTunes Playlist