Music Theory

Basics of Signs II: Accidentals

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Music Theory
Basics of Signs II: Accidentals
Online Lesson Plan
Classroom Lesson Plan
Classroom Lesson Plan
Online Lesson Plan
Classroom Lesson Plan
Classroom Lesson Plan

Summary

Students will learn the meaning of accidentals in music, as well as learn the basics of circle of fifths. They will practice a song with a focus of exploring how having accidentals changes the sound of the song. Students will also try to recognize, understand and read the circle of fifths.

 

⏰ Time: 40 min

🎓 Grades: 4-6

🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...

  • Read and understand what specific symbols mean.
  • Know how sometimes accidentals can make a note mean the same thing.
  • How to understand and use the circle of fifths.

💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:

  • Basic signs and symbols on the staff
  • Knowledge of note values and notation

💻 Materials:

  • Solfeg.io app best used with Chrome browser
  • Projector or computer and access to WIFI

 

Visual presentation

 

Song suggestions:

 

Inspiration

🕐 7 min - The Emotions in Music

  • Tell your students about different colors and feelings music makes them feel.
  • If your students have already covered dotted notes or syncopation rhythms, remind them their purpose - to surprise the listeners through unconventional rhythms.
  • Tell your students that it is possible to surprise the listeners not only through the rhythm, but also through the melody and chords - and here, accidentals come to the rescue with changing the feel or the mood of the song.
  • Select students to answer:
    • Can you give any examples of a song that has a mood change throughout the song?
    • Did the melody change?

 

Warm-Up

🕐 5 min

  • Now, have the students focus on the notation of the song.
  • Ask students: What are some of the symbols you don’t recognize? Students may start to point out sharps and flats.
  • Explain to students that sharps raise a tone and flats lower a tone. Neutral signs cancel out any sharps or flats. Listen through the song again, pausing to point out all the sharps/flats/neutrals that are in the song and helping students learn how to play these accidentals on their instrument.

 

Practice

🕐 7 min - Exercise 1:

  • Play through the entire song from the warmup with the accidentals. Then play it again and have students play all the accidentals as naturals.
  • Ask students:
    • How has the sound changed?
    • Does it change the meaning of the sound?
    • Why are accidentals important?

🕐 10 min - Exercise 2:

  • Move onto another song on the suggested song list. Before you start learning to play it, have students look at the key signature.
  • Write down the the number of sharps and the key on the board like a clock. Have students help you fill out the rest of the numbers only to start.
  • Explain to students that to figure out the label for that key signature, (ex. C, G, D, etc.) they need to count 5 letter names up from the letter you recorded on the board.
  • Continue working with students on this until it is complete. Then get your students to take note of the accidentals and play through the song.

🕐 7 min - Exercise 3:

  • Move on to another song and give students the chance to try and figure out the key signature using the circle of fifths you created together. If there’s time, play through this song as well!

 

Reflection

🕐 5 min - Q & A

  • Select students to answer the following questions:
    • What did you learn about accidentals?
    • Could you use the circle of fifths on your own?
    • How do songs in other keys sound to you?

 

Summary

This lesson is about accidentals – students will use the online class “Basic Signs II” with chatbot guidance to practice during the online lesson. The lesson consists of setting up the online class, explaining theory fundamentals, and guiding your students to do practical exercises with the help of a chatbot. Students will learn different accidentals and their functions, recognize accidentals in a song, as well as learn the basics of circle of fifths.

 

⏰ Time: 40 min

🎓 Grades: 4-6

🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...

  • Read and understand what specific symbols mean.
  • Know how sometimes accidentals can make a note mean the same thing.
  • How to understand and use the circle of fifths.

💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:

  • Basic signs and symbols on the staff
  • Knowledge of note values and notation
  • Experience playing their preferred instruments.

💻 Materials:

  • Solfeg.io app best used with Chrome browser
  • Projector or computer and access to WIFI

!!! If this is the first online setup lesson for your class, we recommend starting with an onboarding lesson using this presentation explaining how solfeg.io works. Download it here. If the class is more than 10 students, this might take some 30 minutes to register and go through the app.

🤳 Video conference call provider:

  • Google Hangouts is recommended, as students only need a Google account and don’t need to install the program in advance. You can share a link however best works for you. Read how to set it up here.

 

Visual presentation

 

Song suggestions:

 

Start of your lesson

🕐 5 min - Announcement for Students

  • Instructions for your next lesson...
    • Open this Google video call link via phone: Insert your unique Google Hangouts invite link here
    • Access your Solfeg.io account via desktop: Insert your unique Solfeg.io invite link here
    • The online class will be 45 minutes. For optimal learning, find a room with little background noise.
    • We will be learning how to recognize accidentals.

🕐 5 min - Setting Up an Online Classroom

  • Send your video conference call link to students. For best results:
    • Encourage them to make this call via mobile device for optimal sound management
    • Make sure everyone can hear and see you.
  • Students log into Solfeg.io on their desktop
  • Students mute their microphone to hear you clearly. They should unmute if they want to ask a question.

 

Inspiration

🕐 5 min

  • Tell your students about different colors and feelings music makes them feel.
  • If your students have already covered dotted notes or syncopation rhythms, remind them their purpose - to surprise the listeners through unconventional rhythms.
  • Tell your students that it is possible to surprise the listeners not only through the rhythm, but also through the melody and chords - and here, accidentals come to the rescue with changing the feel or the mood of the song.
  • Select students to answer:
    • Can you give any examples of a song that has a mood change throughout the song?
    • Did the melody change?

 

Warm-Up

🕐 10 min

  • Explain the theory fundamentals to your students - try answering questions like:
    • What is the purpose of a sharp?
    • What is the purpose of a flat?
    • What is the purpose of a natural?
    • What is the circle of fifths?
    • How do sharps and flats change through the circle of fifths?

 

Practice

  • Lead students to the Classes section in Solfeg.io;
Capture.PNG
  • Show them where the “Basics of Signs II: Accidentals” class is located;
  • Tell them to take the class to learn more about accidentals and the circle of fifths (30 min)!

 

Reflection

Check if your students understood the material by testing their knowledge at the start of next lesson!

🕐 10 min - Exercise 1

  • Show a flat sign to students;
  • Select students to answer if they can tell the purpose of the sign;
  • Show them a picture of piano and call various natural keys (e.g. G), and ask students to tell where the sharp of the flat of this key is located.

🕐 5 min - Exercise 2

  • Show an example of a treble clef and two sharps attached to it;
  • Select students to answer if they can tell what major/minor the picture represents.

 

Beyond the Lesson

  • Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by...
    • Making a project about how sharps and flats change the feeling/mood of a chord. It can contain visual representation if needed.

 

Summary

Students will learn the meaning of accidentals in music, as well as learn the basics of circle of fifths. They will practice a song with a focus of exploring how having accidentals changes the sound of the song. Students will also try to recognize, understand and read the circle of fifths.

 

⏰ Time: 40 min

🎓 Grades: 4-6

🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...

  • Read and understand what specific symbols mean.
  • Know how sometimes accidentals can make a note mean the same thing.
  • How to understand and use the circle of fifths.

💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:

  • Basic signs and symbols on the staff
  • Knowledge of note values and notation

💻 Materials:

  • Solfeg.io app best used with Chrome browser
  • Projector or computer and access to WIFI

 

Visual presentation

 

Song suggestions:

 

Inspiration

🕐 7 min - The Emotions in Music

  • Tell your students about different colors and feelings music makes them feel.
  • If your students have already covered dotted notes or syncopation rhythms, remind them their purpose - to surprise the listeners through unconventional rhythms.
  • Tell your students that it is possible to surprise the listeners not only through the rhythm, but also through the melody and chords - and here, accidentals come to the rescue with changing the feel or the mood of the song.
  • Select students to answer:
    • Can you give any examples of a song that has a mood change throughout the song?
    • Did the melody change?

 

Warm-Up

🕐 5 min

  • Now, have the students focus on the notation of the song.
  • Ask students: What are some of the symbols you don’t recognize? Students may start to point out sharps and flats.
  • Explain to students that sharps raise a tone and flats lower a tone. Neutral signs cancel out any sharps or flats. Listen through the song again, pausing to point out all the sharps/flats/neutrals that are in the song and helping students learn how to play these accidentals on their instrument.

 

Practice

🕐 7 min - Exercise 1:

  • Play through the entire song from the warmup with the accidentals. Then play it again and have students play all the accidentals as naturals.
  • Ask students:
    • How has the sound changed?
    • Does it change the meaning of the sound?
    • Why are accidentals important?

🕐 10 min - Exercise 2:

  • Move onto another song on the suggested song list. Before you start learning to play it, have students look at the key signature.
  • Write down the the number of sharps and the key on the board like a clock. Have students help you fill out the rest of the numbers only to start.
  • Explain to students that to figure out the label for that key signature, (ex. C, G, D, etc.) they need to count 5 letter names up from the letter you recorded on the board.
  • Continue working with students on this until it is complete. Then get your students to take note of the accidentals and play through the song.

🕐 7 min - Exercise 3:

  • Move on to another song and give students the chance to try and figure out the key signature using the circle of fifths you created together. If there’s time, play through this song as well!

 

Reflection

🕐 5 min - Q & A

  • Select students to answer the following questions:
    • What did you learn about accidentals?
    • Could you use the circle of fifths on your own?
    • How do songs in other keys sound to you?

 

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