LESSON 6- PRACTICE

Standards Being Addressed:

MU:Pr4.3.6a Perform a selected piece of music demonstrating how their interpretations of the elements
of music and the expressive qualities (such as dynamics, tempo, timbre, articulation/style, and phrasing)
convey intent.

MU:Pr4.2.6a Explain how understanding the structure and the elements of music are used in music
selected for performance

Materials of Instruction: Guitars, F Blues backing track, Blue Monk, Extra Blue monk Sheet music

Lesson Sequence (lessons may have more or less activities as appropriate):

Entry Activity/Transition:

- Play a recording of “Blue Monk”

“Who remembers playing the root accompaniments of this song? Can you try to play it? The I chord is F”

- Have student play along to the recording with their root accompaniments

Activity #1 Objective: Students will be able to play the F blues scale starting on the 1.

1. T: “A few days ago, we warmed up with something that sounded a little like this (Model
blues scale). Do you remember doing that?

S: Yeah!

T: Good! This is called the blues scale. Today we are going to b playing lots of the blues scale. Lets begin
by playing it starting on F. What is F also called?

S: The I Chord!

- Model going up and down the blues scale during the first four bars of the backing track.

T: Now its your turn! 1-2-ready-go!

- Play the beginning of the backing track and have students go up and down the F blues
scale on the one chord.

T: “Show your neighbor your awesome new scale and see if they look the same!”

Assessment:
Students will be assessed based upon their ability to play the F blues scale alongside a backing track
accompaniment

Transition: Great! Now we are going to play our blues scale starting on different notes

Activity #2 Objective: Students will be able to perform their IV chord blues scale in F

1. “Fun Fact! Once you know one blues scale, you know them all! Can you all find the IV chord note, but
on the same string as F?

T: Great! Now we are going to play the same pattern, just on different notes

Model for students

T: “Join me when you think you’ve got it”

3. “Lets put our skills to the test. I am going to play the backing track, when you hear the I chord, play
the I chord blues scale, but when you hear the IV chord, move to the IV chord blues scale!”

Assessment: Students will be assessed based on their ability to perform the Bb Blues scale to an
accompanying backing track

Transition: Perfect! What’s is the last chord we need to work on?

S: The V Chord!

Activity #3 Objective: Students will be able to perform appropriate blues scales over all three chord
types in the 12 bar blues form

1. T: This one is the same as last time. Find the V Chord on that same string and play the
pattern. This time, I want you to try to do it without my help!

T: “If you end up needing help, try asking your neighbor!”

2. Sounds great! Now lets all play along together to the backing track. We are going to play
each chord it shows.

Play alongside students all I, IV, V blues scale to the backing track

3. Now here’s the real challenge! Can you do the exact same thing, but to our recording of blue monk?

Assessment: Students will be assessed based upon their ability to perform all blues scales to the
recording of Blue monk.

Closure:

T: “This might have seemed a little silly, but we are preparing ourselves for improvisation! These are the
notes and patterns we use to make our own melodies! That comes next!