Grade Level:
Target Concepts:
National Standards: |
Middle school
Rhythm, improvisation
Playing instruments, reading and notating,
improvising |
Procedure:
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Have the following music notation written on the board:
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Have students clap the rhythm and speak it on rhythm syllables.
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Hand out rhythm sticks to the class.
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Have students find one low-pitched and one high-pitched sound, by striking
their rhythm sticks on various parts of their desks, chairs, book, and
other objects around them.
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Instruct students in playing the notated rhythm: Play low-pitched sounds
on the stems-down notes and high-pitched sounds on stems-up notes.
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Question students to review understanding of the notation, e.g., repeat
signs, bar lines, beat 1 of last measure with both stems-up and stems-down.
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Instruct students to keep repeating the rhythm until signaled to stop.
Perform the rhythm.
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Once students have played the rhythm accurately a couple times through,
add a simple “drum fill” over the 3 beats of rest at the end.
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Cut off students’ playing and question them about what you just played.
Where
in the music did my added part occur? Did I play from written music?
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Give students guidelines for playing their own improvised drum fills during
the last measure, such as only playing 3 or 4 beats worth of music. Also,
provide a “fallback” rhythm for students who are reluctant to truly improvise,
but teach it by rote (not written out).
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On the next performance (or the next few), have all students play
drum fills at the same time so they can grow secure in the activity.
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Then have students take drum fill solos.
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The written rhythm can be changed to be made more “hip.” Some students
may be able to do this and the rest of the class can learn it by rote.
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