Welcome to the K2M Education Page...

Harpsichord by Antonio Scotti, 1753, Milan

Look closely at the keyboard above and you'll see that the keys were labelled with their letter names- now doesn't that make things easier for the beginner! On K2M's Education Page we make learning all about these wonderful instruments simple and painless, too.

Teachers: Come here to get lesson plans and ideas. And if you would like to share your lesson plans or ideas with others, e-mail them to K2M and we'll post them. Help us make K2M a valuable resource.

Grades 1-6:

Lesson plan idea No.1: can you group musical instruments into families? Instruments can belong to one of four families: Idiophones, Chordophones, Membranophones, and Aerophones.  Where does the harpsichord fit?

Lesson plan idea No.2: The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a booklet called "A Gallery Hunt in The Metropolitan Museum of Art."  If it is possible to arrange a field trip to the Metropolitan, great! If not, there is still much in the booklet that is of use and which would make learning about instruments fun for young children. Obtain the booklet directly from the Museum, Fifth Avenue at 82nd St., New York, NY 10028.

Grades 7-12:

Lesson Plan Idea No. 1: To explore the relationship between science and harpsichords, assign students to read the article by Martha Goodway in the 22 May 1987 issue of Science, Vol. 236. It is called "Phosphorus in Antique Iron Music Wire", and it is filled with historical background as well as scientific and musical. 'Antique' Iron Music Wire can now be purchased in replica for further examination.

Lesson Plan Idea No. 2: To explore the relationship between history and harpsichords, play harpsichord music of the French 'clavecinistes' and examine late 18th century French harpsichords and art. Then discuss the ways in which these instruments and their repertoire represented the upper classes during the French Revolution, and how a good many harpsichords came to be destroyed because of their clear association with the upper social classes.

All Grades:

Lesson Plan Idea No. 1: Study the history and makeup of old pigment. Mix your own paint, and paint your own (model) harpsichord.

Lesson Plan Idea No. 2: Puff, Pound, and Pluck. An introduction to the basic classes of musical instruments, written by Dorothy Freeman. For more info, email us.

Lesson Plan Idea No. 3: Consult our Did You Know? Page for a wealth of questions, answers, and information.