5th Grade: E Blues Improvisation
NAfME Standards Achieved:
1. Singing alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments 5. Reading and notating music. 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture Objectives: 1. Students will play two new chords with clarity: C Major; G7 2. Students will read chord slashes, accenting the downbeat 3. Students will read chord slashes in a “Blues” context, accenting beats 2 & 4 4. Students will learn/play three new songs Same Chord Blues Frere Jacques He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands 5. Students will learn a blues rhythm in E Major 6. Students will improvise a 2 bar solo over the blues rhythm in E Major Materials: 1. Folders containing Method Books and Guitar Pick 2. Exploring Chords Book 3. Lesson Book 4. A guitar/stand/book/pick for each student Procedure: Greet 1. Greet students outside of class 2. Students will grab their folders upon entering (leave binders in folio) and sit down in center of room Guitars/Stands Walk around circle assigning students into one of two groups: Group 1 or Group 2 Group 1 Set up stands for you and your neighbor(s) (students monitor) Group 2 Sign out guitars (teacher assists) When Group 2 line is almost finished call over the Group 1 to sign out guitars Exploring Chords (page 10) G7 1. The G7 chord sounds like this (play chord) 2. Place your first finger on the first string, first fret 3. Everybody play that NOTE 4. Everybody play the CHORD Same Chord Blues 1. Ask someone to read NEW RHYTHM 2. “Because this is blues we are going to accent beats 2 &4” 3. Demonstrate for students 4. Left half of class plays (right half count 1-4 clapping on 2 &4) 5. Switch sides Exploring Chords (page 11) C Major 1. The G7 chord sounds like this (play chord) 2. Place your first finger on the second string, first fret 3. Everybody play that NOTE 4. Everybody play the chord Frere Jaques 1. Ask someone to read text under diagrams 2. This is a French Folk song, NOT a Blues a. Accent just beat 1 3. Left half of class plays (right half count 1-4 clapping on 2 &4) 4. Switch sides Exploring Chords (Page 12) Changing chords 1. Everybody point to the 2 bars at the top of the page where it says “Play several times” 2. Now show your neighbors where it is 3. Demonstrate for students 4. Explain first finger is staying on the same fret but it is string jumping from 2 to 1 5. Right half of room plays (left half of room says each chord name on downbeat) 6. Switch sides He’s Got the whole world in His Hands 1. Play for students 2. Students follow dashes and clap on beats where chord changes 3. Right half of class plays (Left half sings) 4. Switch sides Blues Vamp on E Major Play four bars for students 1. “I’m only playing two strings, use your eyes and ears to find out which ones they and raise your hand when you know what strings they are (5 & 6) 2.Walk around the room playing vamp so each student has a clear view 3. First finger, fifth string, second fret a. Everybody play that note b. Third finger, fifth string, fourth fret c. Everybody play that note 4. Demonstrate slow blues rhythm again 5. Class plays accenting 2 & 4 Demonstrate how to improvise a solo using the first string (frets 0, 3, and/or 5) Loop chords and play several examples of 2 bars solos Want to spice up your solo? Add any/all of these elements 1. Bend 2. Slide 3. Ostinato rhythm on one note 4. Mute 5. Play rhythm and let all students experiment for 30 seconds Pass the 2 bar solo around the room Have students do the "one-handed wave" to show each student knows who is before and after them Students count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 SWITCH to tell students 2 bars are up If Time 1. Review two learned songs (Rain, Rain Go Away, Hot Cross Buns) 2. Lesson Book pages 14 & 15 3. Play slow swinging e major blues rhythm under student’s melody Guitar/Stand Cleanup 1. Place book and pick back in folder 2. Group 1 line up with guitars at closet Group 2 Hang guitars on trees Return chairs to white tape positioning Put your stand and a neighbors stand back on the rack Group 2 can return guitars when Group 1 line is down 3. Return folder to folio when all of this is done 4. Line up at door Evaluations: Were students able to... Play the C & G7 Major Chord with clarity Accent the downbeat of each measure to Frere Jacques Accent beats 2 & 4 of each measure in Same Chord Blues Clap on the chord changes to He’s Got the Whole World Change chords in rhythm to He’s Got the Whole World Play E Blues Vamp Improvise with assigned frets |