Shippee_MUS149_Assignment 4.

Essential Question:
How is the western view and definition of the pentatonic scale limiting to its usage in music?

Context
7th grade general music class with understanding of major scale degrees and solfege signs.

Materials
Ten orff instruments of any range with mallets.
Piano.
Chalk and Chalkboard

Glossary
Pentatonic Scale:a musical scale of five tones in which the octave is reached at the sixth tone
specifically: a scale in which the tones are arranged like a major scale with its fourth and
seventh tones omitted.
Ritsu: A scale that is built up by intervals of tone, minor third, tone, tone, and a minor third.
Ryo: A scale is built up by tone, tone, minor third, tone, minor third
Yo: A scale that is build by ascending intervals of two, three, two, two, and three semitones.
In: A scale that follows the pattern of 1, b2, 4, 5, b7.
For Yo and In-Yo scale. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Yo_scale
For Ritsu and Ryo-Revolvy, L. (n.d.). "Ritsu and ryo scales" on Revolvy.com. Retrieved from
https://www.revolvy.com/page/Ritsu-and-ryo-scales
Pentatonic Scale. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pentatonic
scale

Standards
MU:Cr2.1.7a Select, organize, develop and document personal musical ideas for arrangements,
songs, and compositions within AB, ABA, or theme and variation forms that demonstrate unity
and variety and convey expressive intent
MU:Pr4.2.7c Identify how cultural and historical context inform performances and result in
different music interpretations.
MU:Re7.2.7b Identify and compare the context of music from a variety of genres, cultures, and
historical periods.
MU:Cn11.0.6a Demonstrate understanding of relationships between music and the other arts,
other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life.

Learning Outcomes
Students will create a definition for pentatonic scales.
Students will improvise over pentatonic scales.
Students will create a pentatonic scale.
Students will perform pentatonics scales.

Procedure
Set out the orff instruments.
Establish the key of C by playing the major triad on an orff instrument.
Invite the students to sing the C major scale with Curwen Solfege hand signs.
Instruct the students to mirror your hand signs and vocals while signing and singing scale
degrees 12356 (Do Re Mi Sol La)
Ask the students to identify the 12356 scale degree pattern.
Whether the students correctly identify the pattern as a C pentatonic scale go up to the board
and write down the Merrain Webster definition of pentatonic scale. Definition: a musical scale of
five tones in which the octave is reached at the sixth tone specifically: a scale in which the tones
are arranged like a major scale with its fourth and seventh tones omitted.
Inform the students that the class will revisit this definition later in the class.
Instruct the students to loop the C major pentatonic scale pattern on their orff instruments.
Explain and demonstrate how one can use the notes in the scale to improvise over the top of
the group.
Instruct the students to, one at a time, improvise over top the rest of the group making sure to
stay on the notes within the scale.
Explain how this scale is called the Ryo scale in Japanese music as well as a further
explanation on how this scale was used in court and Buddhist chants.
Play the ritsu in and yo scales on the piano and ask the students what they would classified as.
Perhaps pentatonic?
Based on the groups feedback, update the definition on the board. Should widen the definition
to include all five note scales within an octave.
Split the class into two and instruct them to create their own pentatonic scale.
Ask the groups to decide whether they want to compose their own melody within their scale or
have individuals improvise.
Have both groups play their newly invented scale and based on their earlier decision have them
perform or improvise.
Facilitate a discussion on the limited view of the pentatonic scale in western culture.

Assessment
Teacher will assess the students definition of a pentatonic scale.
Teacher will assess the students improvisation based on the degree of which the students stay
within the scale.
Teacher will assess the created pentatonic scales based on how well the scale fits the classes
definition.
Teacher will assess the groups preparation of their scale performance.

Further Learning
The class can analyse the newly created scales and see if they can find an already defined
scale in an another culture. These findings can be presented.
I affirm that I have upheld the highest principles of honesty and integrity in my
academic work and have not witnessed a violation of the Honor Code.
Logan Shippee