Teaching objectives: Knowledge of the background/history of blues examples and identifying the style where, how and why the style originated Awareness of the feelings and emotions related to the music Year 8 - The Blues Learning outcomes: AfL Resources Lesson 1 Introduction to the Blues Starter - Listening - Identify the style characteristics and what it sounds like PowerPoint 1 Blues Listening example 1 (instrumental blues) and 2 (solo blues) Activity 1 Think, Pair, Share What do you know already about Blues Music? (TPS worksheet 1 in ) Activity 2 - History/background True or False activity (True or False sheets on VLE) Used to detract the following information... Blues Music usually has a slow tempo... Blues music was first recorded in the 1920 s... Blues sings tended to be about the misery of the conditions the slaves had to live under... Guitars are used in some blues music... Blues music is passed on by ear and not usually written down... In the 18 th and 19 th Centuries Africans were taken from Africa and brought to North America to work as slaves for white landlords... Blues music started in America by African slaves working under harsh conditions... Blues music originated from the slaves working in the cotton fields... Blues Music usually has sad words about the way people have been treated... identify the characteristics of blues music and what these sound like They will be aware of how the blues is linked to the African Slave trade They will learn about the emotions of the people that inspired the style of Music. Post it game tracking specific groups TPS sheet in True or False sheets Post it notes and headings PowerPoint lesson 1 Leads to class discussion about the music and the emotion/conditions of the African Slaves. Plenary - Post it game Students write all the information they have learned in the lesson on the post it note and put it under the correct heading on the whiteboard I learned...one thing, two things, Three things or more..
Skills by listening and comparing different examples of blues music and performing chords to create chords how these chords are used to create a blues piece Lesson 2 Chords Starter PowerPoint 2 emotion and feelings of the workers Recap Blues music History and Background. Activity 1 - Listening comparison Early/solo blues (Robert Johnson example 3) and more modern blues (Eric Clapton example 4). Students to compare the music and complete the VEN diagram in s. Students use the fact file Info on Eric Clapton and Robert Johnson to back up knowledge compare and contrast different pieces of music and draw conclusions from these comparisons They will learn how to create chords G, C and D using the correct fingering. Self assessment progress check. VEN diagram in s Chords focus sheets in s PowerPoint lesson 2 Activity 2 Introduce Chords. Pupil learn how to create chords G,C & D with their right hand using fingers 1,3 and 5 Use chord and keyboard worksheet 1- students to complete the progress check on the worksheet. Plenary listen to examples chord work Homework task: Research the 12 bar blues and provide a definition for next lesson (to be written in planners)
examples of music that use the 12 bar blues structure, and Performing by playing the 12 bar sequence. music can reflect time place and culture the 12 bar blues and how it is used as a framework for the chords Lesson 3 12 bar structure Starter recap the key features of the style Activity 1 - Listening activity Robert Johnson/Louis Armstrong (Example 5) discuss differences in the music and comment on time, place and culture (See PowerPoint Lesson 3) Complete listening and evaluating sheet in. Activity 2 Introduce the 12 bar blues structure and discuss it in detail. Pupils must play the 12 bar blues using the chords G, C and D. (Use 12 bar blues focus sheet in ) Pupils to complete the peer and self assessment sheet and this should be recorded by the teacher. Plenary listen to examples of pupils performing the 12 bar blues and record. discuss differences in music and comment on how the music reflects the time, place and culture of the people/music They will be able to begin to put the chords into the 12 bar sequence and evaluate their own and others work. Self and peer assessment PowerPoint lesson 3 Chord focus sheet in Audio Examples Listening focus sheet in Recording devise and performing examples of a walking bass and the 12 bar sequence Knowledge of a Lesson 4 Walking bass Rock n Roll Music Starter Listening Example 6. Discuss the differences between traditional blues music/structure/emotion and Rock n Roll music. Activity 1 12 bar blues. Pupils to continue to work on the chords and fitting them into the 12 bar structure. Each pair of pupils must complete the self and peer assessment sheet if not done already. Recap 12 bar blues using lesson 4 identify a walking bass line and comment on how it affects the music using key terminology. They will be able to refine their work on the 12 bar structure and evaluate their work and make evaluations about their own and others Self and peer assessment (cont) Keyboards 12 bar focus sheet in Booklets PowerPoint lesson 4
walking bass and what it is used for how to use chords to create a walking bass PowerPoint slide. Activity 2 Walking bass. Explain what and how a walking bass works and how it relates to the chords they have already learned. Plenary Post it... On your post it note, write down the answers to the following questions... What is a walking bass? What does it do to the music? How did blues influence other types of music? work They will be able to create a simple walking bas from he chords they have already learned and some will be able to perform these to the class. and performing a simple improvisation using the blues scale and why performers improvise how the blues scale is used in improvisation Lesson 5 Melody and improvisation Starter Tell your friend What is improvisation? Activity 1 Listening 12 bar blues with melodic improvisation (Teacher demonstration) Activity 2 Performing - introduce the Blues scale. Explain what it is used for and how it is used. Introduce the Jackass Blues and explain how it uses the blues scale to create a melody and that they must create an improvisation using these notes. Plenary Listen to pupils performing the blues scale and improvisation. recognise and identify the 12 bar blues and improvisation. They will be able to play the notes of the blues scale and create simple improvisations using these notes. Some students will be able to start to learn the Jackass Blues piece and possibly add some improvisation. teacher assessment Blues scale worksheet in Keyboards
Skills by performing their piece to the class to improve their work by evaluating their own and others work the style through identifying and evaluating the characteristics of blues in their own and others work Lesson 6/7 Assessment Putting it all together! Starter Recap previous lesson and success criteria for assessment. Activity 1 Students are to rehearse and perform their piece which is to be recorded. Activity 2 Evaluation of performances. Students must comment on each performance and comment on how it could be improved. Plenary Pupils to complete the assessment levels in their s and set themselves a target to improve. Extension/Research work for the topic may include further study of blues linked to Rock n Roll, Gospel music or freedom songs. This can run alongside the Music technology lessons in the second lesson each week. perform the Jackass blues in pairs playing the chords and/or the melody with improvisation They will be able to evaluate and make improvements to their own work and suggest improvements to other groups Video diary as evidence of research into blues music. PowerPoint lesson 6 success criteria Computers Blues Research task