1. The importance of the Christian Church in the life of the medieval man and woman can not be over emphasized. This was a time of the great cathedral building of Europe--Notre Dame in Paris, in Chartres, in Amiens, and so on. These great Gothic structures towered over their surrounding towns, pointing their way heavenward. Having some slides of these and other cathedrals on hand can lead to a brief discussion of the importance of the church and of liturgical music.
2. Music notation took centuries to develop. At first, short, memorized melodic formulas were used and passed on orally. These were based somewhat on Jewish psalmody. As more and more music was needed and became more complex, a method of noting the music was needed. You might want to spend some time discussing the evolution of neumatic notation from its earliest form through heightened neumes and eventually to Gregorian notation, showing examples of each.
3. The text provides ample opportunities for listening. Don’t overlook the opportunity to start with the introductory listening experience. Be sure your students answer the questions. Then follow up later with the “Hearing the Difference” comparative listening experiences. Focus on differences in texts (Latin vs. vernacular) and settings (melismatic vs. syllabic)
4. Plainchant melodies were collected and preserved to be used again at the appropriate time in the church year. Although the trained choir sang these melodies lay people would have recognized them. They became the basis for later polyphonic settings.