Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson on discovering the structure of a song. Integrate solfeg.io in teaching your students to differentiate between the intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, interlude, outro.
🎲 What’s included in the activities:
💻 Materials:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
-Shortly explain what form is. (The structure of the song, its basic shape and organization. The song is made of shorter sections. They work together, each one of them has a different function.)
-Mention that the most common form in popular music is verse-chorus form.
-Play the selected song and shortly explain students the characteristics and the function of different song sections:
The melody of the chorus, or sometimes the verse, is revealed in instrumental form.
Lacks proper lyrics, may include vocal riffing.
Sometimes chorus in full or part can be played in the beginning.
Conveys the basic mood and message of the song.
Is repeated several times in the song - lyrics contain new information each time to move the story along, while the melody stays essentially the same (although variations are possible to accommodate new lyrics).
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Creates tension, builds the energy, leading to the chorus.
The part of the song that listeners easily recognize and are most likely to sing along to.
States the central idea of the song.
The song's title usually appears in the first and/or last line, and possibly more.
Music may contrast the verse - different rhythm, chord progression, vocal register, dynamics, wider melodic range (higher or lower notes than the verse).
When a chorus is just one or two lines long, it’s called a refrain.
Usually placed at the end of each verse.
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Usually placed after the second chorus. That's when listeners may begin to tire of melodic repetition, and the bridge relieves the boredom and helps to refocus on the song.
Can be instrumental or contain lyrics.
To create contrast, there can be changes of the tessitura, melodic or harmonic rhythm, phrase lengths, new lyrical content etc.
May be totally new material or derived from chorus, verse or intro.
Verse 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Chorus 3 (- Chorus 4);
Verse 1 - Pre-Chorus 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Pre-Chorus 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Pre-Chorus 3 - Chorus 3
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
🕐 Time: 15 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Were there any differences between your form and the correct form? What were they?
Which form parts were easy to distinguish and which were harder?
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Have you ever experienced earworms? (A catchy song or tune that runs continually through a person's mind.) Which song was it? Which section of the song was it? Where do titles appear in your favorite songs?
Do you know any songs in which the title doesn't appear in the lyrics? (For example, 'Empire State of Mind Part II' by Alicia Keys)
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by...
Which song doesn't have a chorus? (For example, 'I Want To Break Free' by Queen)
Which song starts with a chorus? (For example, 'Motivation' by Normani)
In which song there's different vocal techniques in verse and chorus? (For example, 'See You Again' by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth)
In this lesson, students will study the form of popular songs. They will find out what building blocks are used in verse-chorus form, what are their characteristics and functions. Students will identify the different sections in a song and compare forms in different musical styles.
The timing and pacing of the exercises in this lesson plan example are approximate and will differ depending on your students' skill level. If the pace of this lesson plan is too fast for you, divide it into several lessons and add additional activities (see 'Activities' section). If the pace of this lesson plan is too slow for you, explore the 'Beyond the lesson' chapter at the end of this lesson plan for additional activities.
⏰ Time: 40 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...
💻 Materials:
🕐 5 min - Explore
🕐 15 min - Theory
-Shortly explain what form is. (The structure of the song, its basic shape and organization. The song is made of shorter sections. They work together, each one of them has a different function.)
-Mention that the most common form in popular music is verse-chorus form.
-Play the selected song and shortly explain students the characteristics and the function of different song sections:
The melody of the chorus, or sometimes the verse, is revealed in instrumental form.
Lacks proper lyrics, may include vocal riffing.
Sometimes chorus in full or part can be played in the beginning.
Conveys the basic mood and message of the song.
Is repeated several times in the song - lyrics contain new information each time to move the story along, while the melody stays essentially the same (although variations are possible to accommodate new lyrics).
Creates tension, builds the energy, leading to the chorus.
The part of the song that listeners easily recognize and are most likely to sing along to.
States the central idea of the song.
The song's title usually appears in the first and/or last line, and possibly more.
Music may contrast the verse - different rhythm, chord progression, vocal register, dynamics, wider melodic range (higher or lower notes than the verse).
When a chorus is just one or two lines long, it’s called a refrain.
Usually placed at the end of each verse.
Usually placed after the second chorus. That's when listeners may begin to tire of melodic repetition, and the bridge relieves the boredom and helps to refocus on the song.
Can be instrumental or contain lyrics.
To create contrast, there can be changes of the tessitura, melodic or harmonic rhythm, phrase lengths, new lyrical content etc.
May be totally new material or derived from chorus, verse or intro.
Verse 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Chorus 3 (- Chorus 4);
Verse 1 - Pre-Chorus 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Pre-Chorus 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Pre-Chorus 3 - Chorus 3
🕐 5 min - Exercise 1 - Moving form
🕐 15 min - Exercise 2 - Form puzzle
Were there any differences between your form and the correct form? What were they?
Which form parts were easy to distinguish and which were harder?
🕐 5 min - Discussion
Have you ever experienced earworms? (A catchy song or tune that runs continually through a person's mind.) Which song was it? Which section of the song was it? Where do titles appear in your favorite songs?
Do you know any songs in which the title doesn't appear in the lyrics? (For example, 'Empire State of Mind Part II' by Alicia Keys)
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by...
In this lesson, students will study the form of popular songs. They will find out what building blocks are used in verse-chorus form, what are their characteristics and functions. Students will identify the different sections in a song and compare forms in different musical styles.
The timing and pacing of the exercises in this lesson plan example are approximate and will differ depending on your students' skill level. If the pace of this lesson plan is too fast for you, divide it into several lessons and add additional activities (see 'Activities' section). If the pace of this lesson plan is too slow for you, explore the 'Beyond the lesson' chapter at the end of this lesson plan for additional activities.
⏰ Time: 40 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...
💻 Materials:
🕐 5 min - Explore
🕐 15 min - Theory
-Shortly explain what form is. (The structure of the song, its basic shape and organization. The song is made of shorter sections. They work together, each one of them has a different function.)
-Mention that the most common form in popular music is verse-chorus form.
-Play the selected song and shortly explain students the characteristics and the function of different song sections:
The melody of the chorus, or sometimes the verse, is revealed in instrumental form.
Lacks proper lyrics, may include vocal riffing.
Sometimes chorus in full or part can be played in the beginning.
Conveys the basic mood and message of the song.
Is repeated several times in the song - lyrics contain new information each time to move the story along, while the melody stays essentially the same (although variations are possible to accommodate new lyrics).
Creates tension, builds the energy, leading to the chorus.
The part of the song that listeners easily recognize and are most likely to sing along to.
States the central idea of the song.
The song's title usually appears in the first and/or last line, and possibly more.
Music may contrast the verse - different rhythm, chord progression, vocal register, dynamics, wider melodic range (higher or lower notes than the verse).
When a chorus is just one or two lines long, it’s called a refrain.
Usually placed at the end of each verse.
Usually placed after the second chorus. That's when listeners may begin to tire of melodic repetition, and the bridge relieves the boredom and helps to refocus on the song.
Can be instrumental or contain lyrics.
To create contrast, there can be changes of the tessitura, melodic or harmonic rhythm, phrase lengths, new lyrical content etc.
May be totally new material or derived from chorus, verse or intro.
Verse 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Chorus 3 (- Chorus 4);
Verse 1 - Pre-Chorus 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Pre-Chorus 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Pre-Chorus 3 - Chorus 3
🕐 5 min - Exercise 1 - Moving form
🕐 15 min - Exercise 2 - Form puzzle
Were there any differences between your form and the correct form? What were they?
Which form parts were easy to distinguish and which were harder?
🕐 5 min - Discussion
Have you ever experienced earworms? (A catchy song or tune that runs continually through a person's mind.) Which song was it? Which section of the song was it? Where do titles appear in your favorite songs?
Do you know any songs in which the title doesn't appear in the lyrics? (For example, 'Empire State of Mind Part II' by Alicia Keys)
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by...
In this lesson, students will study the form of popular songs. They will find out what building blocks are used in verse-chorus form, what are their characteristics and functions. Students will identify the different sections in a song and compare forms in different musical styles.
The timing and pacing of the exercises in this lesson plan example are approximate and will differ depending on your students' skill level. If the pace of this lesson plan is too fast for you, divide it into several lessons and add additional activities (see 'Activities' section). If the pace of this lesson plan is too slow for you, explore the 'Beyond the lesson' chapter at the end of this lesson plan for additional activities.
⏰ Time: 40 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...
💻 Materials:
🕐 5 min - Explore
🕐 15 min - Theory
-Shortly explain what form is. (The structure of the song, its basic shape and organization. The song is made of shorter sections. They work together, each one of them has a different function.)
-Mention that the most common form in popular music is verse-chorus form.
-Play the selected song and shortly explain students the characteristics and the function of different song sections:
The melody of the chorus, or sometimes the verse, is revealed in instrumental form.
Lacks proper lyrics, may include vocal riffing.
Sometimes chorus in full or part can be played in the beginning.
Conveys the basic mood and message of the song.
Is repeated several times in the song - lyrics contain new information each time to move the story along, while the melody stays essentially the same (although variations are possible to accommodate new lyrics).
Creates tension, builds the energy, leading to the chorus.
The part of the song that listeners easily recognize and are most likely to sing along to.
States the central idea of the song.
The song's title usually appears in the first and/or last line, and possibly more.
Music may contrast the verse - different rhythm, chord progression, vocal register, dynamics, wider melodic range (higher or lower notes than the verse).
When a chorus is just one or two lines long, it’s called a refrain.
Usually placed at the end of each verse.
Usually placed after the second chorus. That's when listeners may begin to tire of melodic repetition, and the bridge relieves the boredom and helps to refocus on the song.
Can be instrumental or contain lyrics.
To create contrast, there can be changes of the tessitura, melodic or harmonic rhythm, phrase lengths, new lyrical content etc.
May be totally new material or derived from chorus, verse or intro.
Verse 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Chorus 3 (- Chorus 4);
Verse 1 - Pre-Chorus 1 - Chorus 1 - Verse 2 - Pre-Chorus 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Pre-Chorus 3 - Chorus 3
🕐 5 min - Exercise 1 - Moving form
🕐 15 min - Exercise 2 - Form puzzle
Were there any differences between your form and the correct form? What were they?
Which form parts were easy to distinguish and which were harder?
🕐 5 min - Discussion
Have you ever experienced earworms? (A catchy song or tune that runs continually through a person's mind.) Which song was it? Which section of the song was it? Where do titles appear in your favorite songs?
Do you know any songs in which the title doesn't appear in the lyrics? (For example, 'Empire State of Mind Part II' by Alicia Keys)
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by...