Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson in which students will learn Verse 2 of the song “Vacation” by Dirty Heads. Integrate Solfeg.io in teaching the basics of piano, ukulele, guitar, bass, percussion and singing.
🎲 What's included in the activities:
💻 Materials:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Are there any differences between Verse 2 you just heard and Verse 1 you learned previously?
Are there any new chords?
What are the lyrics about?
🕐 Time: 5 min
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🕐 Time: 5 min
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🕐 Time: 5 min
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🕐 Time: 5 min
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🕐 Time: 5 min
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Did they practice at home?
Did they manage to learn their part by heart?
How did it sound compared to the previous lesson?
🕐 Time: 15 min
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🕐 Time: 15 min
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🕐 Time: 15 min
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🕐 Time: 15 min
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🕐 Time: 15 min
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🕐 Time: 5 min
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🕐 Time: 5 min
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How did it go with the new strumming/rhythm patterns?
What difference did it make to the overall sound of the band and the general mood of the song?
Was Chorus 3 and Post-Chorus 3 any different from the choruses and post-choruses you played previously?
🕐 Time: 3 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
In this lesson, students will learn to sing and play Verse 2 of the song “Vacation” by Dirty Heads. The lesson consists of a short warm-up which will equip students with the necessary skills needed in the verse, a song practice session where students will learn to play and sing different instrumental and vocal parts in groups, a band practice with the whole class and a homework assignment.
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: 50 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson, students will be able to...
💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:
💻 Materials:
🕐 5 min - Discover Verse 2
Are there any differences between Verse 2 you just heard and Verse 1 you learned previously?
Are there any new chords?
What are the lyrics about?
🕐 10 min - Get ready!
Vocal: speak these lyrics out loud:
Percussion: play this short excerpt from the 2nd rhythm line:
Piano: play these notes with your left hand:
Guitar, ukulele: strum open strings in this pattern:
Bass: play these notes like this:
🕐 5 min - Recap Verse 1
Did they practice at home?
Did they manage to learn their part by heart?
How did it sound compared to the previous lesson?
🕐 15 min - Verse 2
- In this activity, students will work in groups to learn their assigned instrumental / vocal part of Verse 2.
- Each group should have one device - either a computer or a tablet.
- Each group should select the corresponding visuals under “Tools” - “Visuals”.
- Show them how to loop Verse 2 on their devices (the “Loop” button on the right side of the “Play” button) and where to slow the song down (the “﹣” button on the left side of the “Play” button.
- Explain the steps for learning Verse 2 to each group. First, give every group just the first task from the below mentioned lists. Only when students are ready to move on, explain the next step.
First, listen to Verse 2 and read the lyrics.
Repeat Verse 2 and this time speak the lyrics out loud.
Sing the melody with syllables of choice, for example, “lah-lah”, “dah-dah” or just vowels - “ah”, “oh” or other.
Add the lyrics to the melody.
If comfortable with the slower tempo, you can try singing the verse at a faster speed and try to reach the original speed!
Try singing Verse 2 with the vocal track muted - you can mute it under “Controls” - “Volume”.
Practice the strumming pattern you already did as warm-up. First, strum only open strings - don't press any chords with your left hand!
Time to add the chords! If there are at least 4 people in the group, take turns to play chords - each person chooses either C, Am, Em or G and plays only this chord when the corresponding symbol appears at the red line on the screen. Keep playing the same strumming pattern with your right hand!
Try to combine all four chords one after another
If comfortable with the slower tempo, you can try playing the chorus at a faster speed and try to reach the original speed!
Try playing Verse 2 with the piano and synth tracks muted - you can mute them under “Controls” - “Volume”.
Play the same bass line with your left hand as you did in the warm-up.
Add the right hand chords - play the bass note on the first beat and then the chord with the right hand on the third beat.
If comfortable with the slower tempo, you can try playing the verse at a faster speed and try to reach the original speed!
Try playing Verse 2 with the piano and synth tracks muted - you can mute them under “Controls” - “Volume”.
Mute all the tracks except the rhythm tracks under “Controls” - “Volume”. Listen to the rhythm section.
Split into the same 4 groups you did in the previous lesson and choose the same rhythm track.
Play Verse 2 again and try to play or clap along.
Take turns learning the rhythm - you can mute the other three tracks when learning your track.
If comfortable with the slower tempo, you can try playing the verse at a faster speed and try to reach the original speed!
Play along to Verse 2 in the same rhythm you did in the warm-up.
If comfortable with the slower tempo, you can try playing the verse at a faster speed and try to reach the original speed!
Walk around the classroom and check how students are doing in different instrumental stations. Guide them by suggesting the next step from the above-mentioned step-by-step learning process when you see that students are ready.
🕐 5 min - Put it all together
🕐 5 min - Discussion
Ask students to practice their part of Verse 2 at home.
Encourage them to learn their part by heart.