It’s time to have some fun with Star Wars Music! Whether you are planning an epic Star Wars lesson for May the 4th (Star Wars Day) or plan to teach Star Wars music as part of a different lesson in your classroom, this post is for you.
I am going to share some of my favorite Star Wars songs and ways you can teach them. Whether you are looking for information on the composer, John Williams, or Star Wars music worksheets or fun movement activities, I’ve got you covered.
In a rush? Need a quick, ready-to-go set of Star Wars activities? You can grab this Star Wars Music Bundle.
Or if you have time to read a little bit about some of my favorite Star Wars lessons and activities, then read on!
Star Wars Composer – John Williams
Learning about Star Wars music is meaningless without learning about it’s creator – John Williams. Below is a great video with some great biographical information.
Sometimes it’s helpful to have some worksheets to go along with any lesson. I feel like most kids just retain information a little better if they have written it down. If I were planning my lesson, I would probably do a short introductory worksheet on John Williams, then have them complete this word search as they watch the video about John Williams.
Star Wars Main Theme
There is nothing more iconic to Star Wars than that opening music. You can instantly picture the script rolling across a starry background as soon as the opening notes sound. So of course I have some fun activities to share to go along with this song.
Listen to the Music
I always like to let my students listen to a piece first before we do anything with it. Just allow it to soak in. I might be super familiar with the song and assume my students know every part of it as well, but that is probably incorrect. And if students are going to move to show the form or listen and analyze, they need to have some familiarity with the song.
Listening maps can be a great way to guide a student’s listening so that catch repeating themes or featured instruments. It really helps anchor them in what can feel like a sea of sound to the untrained ear. Here is a listening map that I made for the Star Wars Main Theme.
Or another alternative is to have students close their eyes during the song and picture something in their head, then draw it.
Analyze the Music
Speaking of drawing things, I absolutely LOVE listening glyphs. They are basically like color book images with directions. You can create your own by finding a coloring book image (probably in this case, one related to Star Wars). Then add directions along the side as to what color to color each part of the image based on what the students hear in the song. For example: Does the song use percussion? Color the Wookie purple. No percussion? Color the Wookie orange. Or you can use my premade glyph if you like. It is part of the Star Wars Bundle.
Move to the Music
No Star Wars lesson is complete without a movement activity! One of my personal favorites is a parachute routine that I discovered on YouTube that goes with the Star Wars Main Theme. I recommend with any parachute routine to practice one time without the parachute, just moving your hands to the music. Then add the parachute once students have success with the motions by themselves.
Cantina Band from Star Wars
Who can forget the Cantina Band in Stars Wars A New Hope? They are playing their song as Obi Wan and Luke Skywalker try and find a ship to take them off Tatooine. This song is a fun and upbeat addition to your May the 4th lesson.
Listen to Cantina Band
Cantina Band has a clear and easy to follow musical form. But your students might not really notice it, without a visual. That is why I like to use listening maps when we are first familiarizing ourselves with a new piece. This listening map is a part of my Star Wars Music Bundle.
Cantina Band Creative Movement Activity
Once students are familiar with the song, divide them up into small groups. Each group is in charge of creating dance movements for their section.
Make sure to give them time to create, practice and perform. I find that giving my groups creative movement cards can help them come up with ideas if they are stumped. Things like pat your lap or walk in a circle, etc. Some groups won’t even need the cards. Other groups rely on them entirely.
Once everyone has prepared their dance, play the song and have them perform their section with the music.
Star Wars Songs – Imperial March
No Star Wars unit is complete without the iconic Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme). It is as recognizable as the Main Theme and brings an immediate sense of “something wicked this way comes.”
Leitmotifs in Star Wars Music
Want to really show your music history nerd? Teach your students about leitmotifs and then show off the ones used in Star Wars. A leitmotif is a short theme that is supposed to reference a character or other important part of the story.
Star Wars has many leitmotifs. The opening notes of the melody in the Imperial March is a prime example. Leia’s Theme is another. And don’t forget The Force Theme. If you want to take a deep dive, check out this AMAZING resource on all the Star Wars leitmotifs found throughout the saga.
Listening to the Imperial March
As always, I start off having my students listen to the piece to get familiar with the melody and form using a listening map.
Imperial March Light Saber Movement
Here is a light saber routine I created for the Imperial March. You can have your students use a variety of things for light sabers. Pool noodles. gift paper cardboard tubes. For me, I don’t like to store a bunch of extra stuff in my storage space, so we use boomwhackers.
Here’s the routine:
(Students should be lined up with a partner in two lines facing each other)
Intro: light saber on shoulder for 8. light saber held up in front of you for 8.
Part A (Main theme): Walk in toward partner 8 (tap light sabers on 8). Walk back out 8 (tap on floor on 8). Lunge high and low with your light saber (every 4 beats).
Intro: put light saber on shoulder (8). Turn towards right to make a follow the leader line.
Part B: Follow the leader around the room in a line.
Intro: go back to your original position.
Part A returns
Coda: March in place (16). Hold saber straight in front of you (8). Hold saber sideways (8). Spin (8). Stop (8). Hold Sideways (8). On last beat – put saber on shoulder again.
Imperial March Coloring Page
Are pool noodles and light saber poses feeling a little too complicated? No problem! Might I suggest a listening glyph? Students listen and color based on what they hear. All you need is the music, coloring supplies, and the worksheets, which are included in the Star Wars Music bundle.
May The Force Be With You
I hope that this gives you some helpful ideas on some activities you can use to create a great Star Wars music lesson. As always, my goal is to make lesson prep and planning quick and simple for you, because we are busy people. Speaking of which, you can grab the Star Wars Music Bundle for John Williams bio info, plus listening maps and listening glyphs for the Star Wars Main Theme, Cantina Band and the Imperial March.
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