Middle School Lesson 23A – song-based lesson
StartString Family, Timbre of Orchestral InstrumentsThemes(s):
Composers, Our Musical World, Asia, Eras in Music, 1800s, Romantic
Extra Details:
Rhythm
Grades
Curriculum Links
Holidays
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson, you will:
- Play Poison Rhythm
- Do a rhythm play along to practice dotted 8th-16th
- Learn about the song “Arupusu”
- Teach “Arupusu”
- Play the clap game with “Arupusu”
- Review “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
- Learn about the song “Wade in the Water”
- Teach “Wade in the Water”
- Option 1: Play “Wade in the Water” on the ukulele
- Option 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Wade in the Water”
- Learn about the song “John B Sails” (Sloop John B)
- Teach “John B Sails” (Sloop John B)
- Optional: Accompany with guitars, ukuleles, Orff or Boomwhackers
- Watch the Beach Boys perform “Sloop John B”
- Read about Beethoven’s String Quartet
- View a performance of Movement I “Allegro ma non tanto”, from String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor by Ludwig van Beethoven
- Optional: Complete the worksheet
Extension:
Musicplay is a menu. The teacher is not expected to teach every song or activity. Choose the songs and activities from the list that will best fit your schedule and the needs of your students.
Objectives
- I can read rhythms and melodies
- I can compare musical performances
- I can describe a string quartet
Teaching Procedures
Play Poison Rhythm
Copy LinkPlay poison rhythm.
This is to practice the dotted 8th-16th note rhythm that will be found in Arupusu.
Do a rhythm play along to practice dotted 8th-16th
Copy LinkDo a rhythm play-along to practice dotted 8th-16th.
Learn about the song "Arupusu"
Copy LinkTeach "Arupusu"
Copy LinkTeach the song "Arupusu".
If students are able to, have them read the rhythms.
If they can, have them read the notes using solfege or note names.
OR - teach the song by rote. Sing or play a phrase and have students echo. Combine phrases. Sing or play the whole song and have students echo.
Play the clap game with "Arupusu"
Copy LinkPlay the clap game with "Arupusu"
The clapping pattern is outlined below.
A clap own hands
ru clap right hands with a partner
pu clap own hands
su clap left hands with a partner
ichi clap own hands
man clap right hands with a partner
ja clap own hands ku clap left hands with a partner
ko ya clap own hands twice
ri no clasp hands together, turn knuckles so they are facing you and stretch arms out
u hold right elbow with left hand, and touch partners elbow
e de hold left elbow with right hand, and touch partners elbow
Review "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
Copy LinkLearn about the song “Wade in the Water”
Copy LinkTeacher note: "Wade in the Water" is a spiritual and includes religious themes. We ask that you consider the needs of your classroom and your community when making decisions about using this song.
Teach “Wade in the Water”
Copy LinkTeach the song by rote. Discuss repeat signs. Have the students read the rhythms for this song.
Option 1: Play “Wade in the Water” on the ukulele
Copy LinkOption 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Wade in the Water”
Copy LinkCreative Ideas: Have the students playing hand drums create a four measure introduction for the song.
Learn about the song "John B Sails" (Sloop John B)
Copy LinkRead about the song "John B Sails" on Wikipedia.
Teacher note: Please note that this song includes references to alcohol use and misuse. We ask that you consider the needs of your classroom and your community when making decisions about using this song.
Teach "John B Sails" (Sloop John B)
Copy LinkTeach the song "John B Sails" (Sloop John B)
Teach by rote. Sing or play a phrase and have students echo. Combine phrases. Sing or play the whole song and have students echo.
Optional: Accompany with guitars, ukuleles, Orff or Boomwhackers
Copy LinkOptional - Accompany the song with guitars, ukuleles, Orff or Boomwhackers. A printable pdf is found in supporting resources.
It is suggested that you accompany in the key of G instead of the key of F that the song is recorded in. The key of G has easier chords to play on guitar and ukulele. If you are accompanying with barred instruments or Boomwhackers use the following notes for the chords. Decide on a rhythm to play or play the beat of the music
G = G B D
D7 = D F# A C. (leave out the F# is you don't have chromatics.)
C = C E G
Watch the Beach Boys perform "Sloop John B"
Copy LinkNote to Teachers: The original sea chantey (and the Beach Boys version) contain references to drinking. You could use this as a discussion about sailors and why the royal navy gave sailors rum rations until 1970. You may also want to discuss what kind of problems alcohol can cause. You know your students best, and may choose not to teach this song.
Invite the students to discuss similarities and differences in this music video compared to current music videos. Discuss similarities and differences in this recording compared to the Musicplay recording.
Read about Beethoven's String Quartet
Copy LinkRead about Movement I “Allegro ma non tanto”, from String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor by Ludwig van Beethoven.
There is a printable student worksheet to accompany this listening selection.
View a performance of Movement I “Allegro ma non tanto”, from String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor by Ludwig van Beethoven
Copy LinkView a performance of Beethoven's String Quartet No 4, Mve 1.
Optional: Complete the worksheet
Copy LinkDiscuss the questions in the worksheet, or have students complete it.