Prepare 1 (6th Grade 12 bar blues)

Sol and Do
P4
8th notes, dotted quarter
A

Objectives:
6th graders will sing the melody to No Math Blues.
6th graders will play chord tones of the I, IV, and V chords on Orff Instruments or Recorders.
Standards Being Addressed:

Pr.2.5.a Demonstrate understanding of the structure and the elements of music (such as rhythm,
pitch, form, and harmony) in music selected for performance.

Pr.4.6 Identify and apply teacher-provided criteria (such as correct interpretation of notation,
technical accuracy, originality, and interest) to rehearse, refine, and determine when a piece is
ready to perform.

Pr.5.6.a Perform the music with technical accuracy to convey the creator’s intent.

Materials of Instruction:

- Orff Instruments with Bb

- Recorders
- I, IV, V chord signs (C7, F7, G7)

Lesson Sequence:

Entry Activity/Transition: Teacher playing and singing No Math Blues on piano improvising in
the 4th bar of each phrase.

Activity #1: Singing the song

1. Teacher will call and the students will respond saying the same thing. It is important that
the piano continue to go through all instruction.
a. T: The first measure
i. S: respond
b. T: second measure
i. S: respond
c. T: First and second measure
i. S: Response
d. T: third measure
i. S: respond
e. T: Full line
i. S: Respond
f. Teacher play and sing the full song
i. S: Join teacher after the form has gone through
g. Teacher stops playing! “We are going to perform the whole song 4 times. The
first time we are all going to sing it. The second time this half is going to sing
it. The third time the other half is going to sing, and the last time all of us are
going to sing again.
i. S: follow those instructions.
2. Teacher instructs: Today is an “A Day”. Go grab your “A Day” instruments and sit in a
circle in the center of the class room. Be in the circle by the time I am done playing the
song this time.
 3. Teacher sings the song one more time. Finishing and joining students in the circle.

Goal: Students sing No Math Blues without teacher help.

Assessment: Teacher assessed by looking around the room and seeing when students
begin and end singing.

Activity #2: Chord Tones to No Math

1. T: “A few lessons ago I reminded you guys about the I, IV, and V chord and how to
play them didn’t I?”
a. S: Yes you did
2. “So what makes up the I chord?”
a. S: 1,3,5 or do, mi, sol
3. “What makes up the IV chord?”
a. S: 4,6,1 or fa, la, do
4. “and the V chord?”
a. S: 5,7,2 or sol, ti, re
5. “Today we are in the key of C. Who can tell be the chords we are going to play
today?”
a. S: C, F, G
6. “That is right. We are going to do the same activity we did the other day only
playing the chord tones to those chords. Give yourself a few seconds to remind
yourself on your instruments what they are. Don’t forget about the recorder
fingering chart on the wall! If you are struggling ask a friend if they can help and if
they can’t raise your hand and I will come around.”
a. A few seconds go by listening to mass chaos
7. “Let’s try this, I am going to hold up a card that says C, F, or G and I want you to
play a chord tone in that chord. I will show you the chord then cue the note to give
you a little bit of time to figure out the note you want to play.”
a. Go through each card a few times giving a few seconds the first time a card comes
up giving them slightly less time each time the same card comes up.
i. Randomly call only recorders or only xylos and listen for the mistakes.
b. Listen until you hear mostly the right notes then slowly morph into the blues
progression showing them 4 C’s, 2 F’s, 2 C’s, 1 G, 1 F, and 2 C’s
i. Repeat the progression 4 times.
c. The fourth time through the progression start singing the song keeping them
playing in time.

Assessment: Teacher will assess based listening to what the students are playing and
determining if they need to stop and relearn or continue on.

Closure: Awesome job everyone! We will continue to work on the I, IV, and V chord so keep
working and thinking about it!