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Lesson Plan Two

In lesson two we provide the students with an opportunity to consolidate their understanding of notes, note values and their appearance. The lesson plan includes the addition of two whole class activities; Rhythm Section Studies and the second Live Performance Vamp.

The students will continue to develop their skills on their chosen instrument and then work together playing live.

These plans are a guide to how you might wish to structure your Gigajam lessons and we would welcome any feedback you may have. We hope you find this resource of use.

Requirements

Peripherals

  • IWB Projector or large monitor
  • Instruments — Electric Guitar/Bass Guitar/Drum kit/Keyboard
  • Computer(s)
  • Midi instruments with Midi interfaces if you want to use the Gigajam Analyser

Software and Lesson Resources

  • Gigajam Essential Skills Course for Guitar, Bass, Keyboards and Drums Level 1
  • Gigajam TV Shows Level 1
  • Gigajam Songbook Level 1
  • Instrument Diagrams

Introduction

  • Ask the students the names of the notes they learned in their first instrument lesson.
  • Establish that the students are aware of the appearance, the names and the values of the notes they have studied in lesson one.
  • Share all the notes with the students and get them to count and play the rhythm section study piece either by clapping or by playing their instruments.
  • Take time to explain the components of the note's appearance, in terms of the note head, stem, tails and barring.

Teachers' Resources

Rhythm Section Study One

Using the interactive whiteboard (IWB)

  • Quickly revise how the lessons work and establish if any of the students need support in working the lesson notes and software.
  

Key Musical Concept

  • Familiarising the students with the appearance of notes and how they contribute to rhythm across different instruments when creating a rhythmic ensemble.
  

Personalised Learning

Guitar

Understand and be able to count half notes.

Understand and be able to count quarter notes.

Develop understanding of the chords A5 and G5, by using combinations of all notes learned.

Develop greater awareness and ability to play in time with music.

Introduce the concept of 'subdividing', to create rhythm.

Bass

Understand and be able to count eighth notes.

Play more rock grooves using eighth notes.

Introducing the use of a plectrum (also known as a pick).

Understand right hand alternate picking.

Understand the use of down and up strokes.

Keyboard

Introduce major scales for the notes A and G.

Understand the relationship between major triads and major scales.

Perform ascending and descending scales using quarter notes.

Introduce and apply right hand fingering for scales.

Drums

Understand and be able to count eighth notes.

Further development of three way co-ordination.

Play more rock grooves using eighth notes.

Introduce the single stroke roll.

Live Performance Workshop (LPW)

Live Band Session

  • Create bands from the class and get the students to play Vamp 2 from the LPW Book.
  • Some students may have not progressed as far as Lesson 2 and they could use their skills from Lesson One and apply to their part.
  • Identify four students to form a band and get them to play around Vamps 1 and 2 from the LPW book.
Vamp Two score
Xtractor file of Vamp Two
MIDI file of Vamp Two
  • You may wish to use the Xtractor to support the students and rotate students to come and join the band.
  • You may wish to ask a student to operate the Xtractor software so that they run the session.
  • Try and encourage advancing students to add parts to the Vamp using prior knowledge and creativity.

Lesson Outcomes

  • To start to cement the use of the rhythms, note values and chords learned in these first two lessons.
  • Students will begin to be able to confirm the note values they are employing as well as the appearance of those notes.
  • Students should be aware of the names of the chords they are playing.
  • Students will have an opportunity to apply the skills learned in lessons 1 and 2 to playing in a band.
  • The students will continue to develop performance skills and be able to work collaboratively by playing together, and by taking some role in organising themselves and their colleagues into bands.