Simple Rhythms in Songs

🕐 5 min - Explain the song

• Choose a song from ‘Song suggestions’ list, for example, ‘One Touch‘ by Jess Glynne.
• Ask students to take percussion instruments (you can also use clapping and beat-boxing).
• Turn off the projector/screen (or ask students to close their eyes).
• Click ‘Play’ and turn on the song.
• Use the song's backing track and clap/play the rhythm motifs of the song. Ask your students to play and copy you by ear.

🕐 10 min - Explain rhythm patterns

• Turn the projector/screen back on.
• Choose one of the rhythm tracks that are suitable for your students, for example, ‘Kick’ track (located on the bottom);
• Open ‘Sound Controls’ and press the ‘solo’ function to the track which you chose to learn
• Ask the class to take their staff paper.
• Click ‘Play’ for the rhythm track and ask students to follow the screen and write down:
  • All the note lengths and rests they can see in this track;
  • Most common/repeating rhythm patterns in this track;
  • Repeat the record of the track, if needed.
  • Ask students to name the elements they found and write them on a whiteboard.

🕐 25 min - Exercise 1:

• Open ‘Sound Controls’ and ‘mute’ all rhythm tracks.
• Click the ‘Play’ button and play/clap each element that is written on the whiteboard 4-8 times together with the class (use the song as a backing track).
• ‘Unmute’ all rhythm tracks for full band sound.
• Choose a part of the song, for example, ‘Verse 1’,
• Arrange the speed of the record with the ‘slow down’ function if needed.
• Click ‘Play’ and perform the chosen rhythm track part together with the class.
• Let your students play the rhythm on their own with the record;
• If the class is ready, you can learn the next part, for example, ‘Chorus 1’, etc.

🕐 5 min

• ‘Mute’ the rhythm track that your class has learned;
• Click ‘Play’ and let your class play the rhythm from beginning to the end with the backing track. (You can skip complicated bars or song parts and focus on keeping the tempo).
• Give positive feedback to each other and pointers to improve.
• When you learn another rhythm track, try playing it together with another rhythm track.

• Challenge students to go beyond the lesson...
  • Give the class “Simple Rhythms in songs” as homework to students.
  

  • Try to play the rhythm you just learned and sing the lead vocals of the song at the same time.
  • Practice playing the other rhythm tracks of the same song learned in the class.

🕐 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 simple rhythms in songs.

🕐 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.
• Teacher preloads one of the suggested songs for this lesson if needed.

🕐 5 min - Explain the song

• Choose a song from the ‘Song suggestions’ list. For example, ‘Timebomb‘ by Walk The Moon. 
• Tell your students about the song! You can pick some facts from the song description.
• Share the screen, click ‘Play’ and ask students to pay attention to the sound of rhythm instruments.
• Select students to answer questions:
  • What rhythm instruments do they hear in the song?
  • What other instruments are there?, etc.

🕐 10 min - Explain simple rhythms

• Choose a song from the ‘Song suggestions’ list. For example, ‘Timebomb‘ by Walk The Moon. 
• Tell your students about the song! You can pick some facts from the song description.
• Share the screen, click ‘Play’ and ask students to pay attention to the sound of rhythm instruments.
• Select students to answer questions:
  • What rhythm instruments do they hear in the song?
  • What other instruments are there?, etc.

• Lead students to the Classes section in Solfeg.io;

• Show them where the “Simple Rhythms in Songs” class is located;
• Tell them to take the class to learn more about recognizing and clapping simple rhythms (30 min)!

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

🕐 10 min - Exercise 1

• Select any of the students and ask to unmute their microphone when performing.
• Ask to play the song they chose in chatbot class ‘Simple rhythms in songs’ and clap the rhythm exercises they’ve learned.
• Select students one by one for each performance.
• Discuss the results of the performances.

• Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by...
  • Try to play the rhythms you just learned and sing the lead vocals of the song at the same time.
  • Practice playing the other rhythm tracks of the same song learned in the class.

🕐 5 min - Explain the song

• Choose a song from ‘Song suggestions’ list, for example, ‘One Touch‘ by Jess Glynne.
• Ask students to take percussion instruments (you can also use clapping and beat-boxing).
• Turn off the projector/screen (or ask students to close their eyes).
• Click ‘Play’ and turn on the song.
• Use the song's backing track and clap/play the rhythm motifs of the song. Ask your students to play and copy you by ear.

🕐 10 min - Explain rhythm patterns

• Turn the projector/screen back on.
• Choose one of the rhythm tracks that are suitable for your students, for example, ‘Kick’ track (located on the bottom);
• Open ‘Sound Controls’ and press the ‘solo’ function to the track which you chose to learn
• Ask the class to take their staff paper.
• Click ‘Play’ for the rhythm track and ask students to follow the screen and write down:
  • All the note lengths and rests they can see in this track;
  • Most common/repeating rhythm patterns in this track;
  • Repeat the record of the track, if needed.
  • Ask students to name the elements they found and write them on a whiteboard.

🕐 25 min - Exercise 1:

• Open ‘Sound Controls’ and ‘mute’ all rhythm tracks.
• Click the ‘Play’ button and play/clap each element that is written on the whiteboard 4-8 times together with the class (use the song as a backing track).
• ‘Unmute’ all rhythm tracks for full band sound.
• Choose a part of the song, for example, ‘Verse 1’,
• Arrange the speed of the record with the ‘slow down’ function if needed.
• Click ‘Play’ and perform the chosen rhythm track part together with the class.
• Let your students play the rhythm on their own with the record;
• If the class is ready, you can learn the next part, for example, ‘Chorus 1’, etc.

🕐 5 min

• ‘Mute’ the rhythm track that your class has learned;
• Click ‘Play’ and let your class play the rhythm from beginning to the end with the backing track. (You can skip complicated bars or song parts and focus on keeping the tempo).
• Give positive feedback to each other and pointers to improve.
• When you learn another rhythm track, try playing it together with another rhythm track.

• Challenge students to go beyond the lesson...
  • Give the class “Simple Rhythms in songs” as homework to students.
  

  • Try to play the rhythm you just learned and sing the lead vocals of the song at the same time.
  • Practice playing the other rhythm tracks of the same song learned in the class.