Basics of Signs II: Accidentals

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:

A cover of
The Git Up
BLANCO BROWN

A cover of
Budapest
GEORGE EZRA

A cover of
Bleeding Love
LEONA LEWIS

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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