David Aguiar, Joshua Argueta, Alexa Marsellos, Daniel Rodriguez Grade: 9-12

Musical Focus:
Rhythm Form Creating Harmony Open Mind

Date: October 23, 2013 Title: 12 Bar Blues

Preparation:
In the lesson, the following will be covered: Basic proficiency in the selected instrument General knowledge of Music Theory covering: Understand what it means to have a genuine blues sound with relation to each instrument o Scale degrees o Chords, arpeggios & progressions Discuss what the essential parts of blues are by listening to demonstrations, analyzing the chord progressions, and creating our own blues compositions.

Materials:
Musical instruments

Process and Personalization (35-40 minutes)

Standards Addressed:
1. Arts: Music, 9-12
Enduring Understanding 1: Cognition & reflection are required to appreciate, interpret & create with artistic intent (MU.912.C.1). Benchmark: 4. Compare & perform a variety of vocal styles & ensembles (MU.912.C.1.4). Enduring Understanding 2: Assessing our own and others artistic work, using critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are central to artistic growth (MU.912.C.2). Enduring Understanding 3: The processes of critiquing works of art lead to development of critical-thinking skills transferable to other contexts (MU.912.C.3).

2. 3.

4.

5.

Objectives: Understand: Understand 12 bar blues Know the difference between I, IV, & 5 chords Decipher between major and minor blues

The lesson begins with a listening activity in which the students will listen to two videos of 12 bar blues; one in major & one in minor. Be sure to note the moving bass line as the examples play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZfXkuOhhLg (major) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNFX65nyY50 (minor) After we listen to some of the improvisation, students will discuss with a partner and share what they heard (ex. What did you hear, experience, remember, feel, etc.) Review the basic chord progression and structure of a 12 bar blues. Play and sing a basic blues scale (If possible, project/write the chord progressions on the board and leave up for the duration of the lesson so students can use for reference). Now that we have heard & discussed 12 bar blues, we will break into groups to create multiple variations of the blues, using instrumentations. The groups will perform their compositions for the class. Possible instrumentation includes: Orf Instruments Instrumental Technology (piano, violin, sax instrument apps) Vocalists Each group will contain at least one of each instrument type listed above. Once the groups are formed, students will try to find ways of how they can combine the diverse instruments into a new, creative 12 Bar Blues (If time allows, each student can solo). Once each group has had an opportunity to play, we will have a listening review. The video(s) from the beginning of the class will be played again briefly. Potential questions for discussion are: a.) Did you incorporate elements you heard in the video in your arrangement? b.) How did the diversity of instruments affect the creating process? c.) What was a creative technique that your group used to create a genuine sound?

Next Class (HW): Each student will be responsible for 3 things next class: 1. 2. 3. Create a 12 bar progression in a key of the students choosing (excluding C major), & create a moving bass line. Come up with a couple of different themes. Think about why you chose the rhythmic/melodic patterns you did. List ways how you were able to create a melodic line overtop your progressions in the moving bass. Reflect on the lesson. Think about how playing the blues differs from group to individual. How is it the same/different regarding creating, practicing & performing?

Encounter: Creating blues using musical thoughts Overcoming fears o Comfortably in class o Knowing right notes

Notes/Extension:
The objective of the lesson is to have students create a piece using a different style to understand musical process. Students will be responsible for assessing themselves & working with each other in learning the progressions. As the lesson progresses, I will survey the room & provide practice tips that can be applied to most musical contexts.

Assessment: Each group will play 24 bars Explain process of how they composed their improvisations