William Grant Still: "Afro-American Symphony"

Improvisation Lesson Plans: 4-5

Lesson 1. Keep the Beat

Improvisation in a basic four beat pattern using movement

Objectives
Students will learn basic improvisation of a four beat measure through a game using a four quarter note pattern. NOTE: The idea in this lesson is to teach the student to create something on the spot.

Materials
"Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" chant
Music, which has a steady beat - one slower and one moderate speed (*choose something the class already knows)

1. Have students sit in a circle. Play the game "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"

1. Begin the game by going in order around the circle
2. Move into choosing students at random.

2. New Game: Keep the Beat - teacher leads. Have the students' follow whatever the teacher does with the beat.

1. Put all movements into four beat / eight beat sections. Without thinking the students will fall into this pattern.
   Example:
   eight beats: pat knee
   eight beats: clap
   eight beats: tap head
   eight beats: tap the floor
2. Add in the factor of music to help keep the beat. Don't play too loud. You may want a slower piece to begin with and then use faster ones later.

3. Keep the beat - Around the circle - students lead

1. Have the students go around the circle - in order - with each choosing a rhythm pattern. The object of this game is to keep the beat. You also want the students to choose something different than the person beside them. Challenge them to try something different than you. You may want the class to join with them on the second four beats.
   Example:
   

   Sally: 4 beats pat knees	Class: 4 beats pat knees
   John: 4 beats clap	Class: 4 beats clap
   Steve: 4 beats nod head	Class: 4 beats nod head

4. Keep the beat - Crazy Time

1. Same game as above - except that the teacher calls out the name of the next person while the class is repeating the first person's pattern. This way the students have to think of their ideas more quickly

Extention: Use the same lesson as above but change the rhythm from four quarter notes to a rhythmic pattern. The key is to use only one rhythm pattern for the game so that the improvisation skill of moving the pattern is focused upon.

Lesson 2. Keep the Beat

Improvisation in basic four beat patterns using basic rhythms

Objectives
Students will learn basic improvisation of a four beat measure through a game of rhythms. NOTE: The idea in this lesson is to teach the student to create something on the spot.

Materials
"Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" chant
Music, which has a steady beat - one slower and one moderate speed (*choose something the class already knows)

1. Have students sit in a circle. Play the game "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"

1. Begin the game by going in order around the circle.
2. Move into choosing students at random.

2. Teacher brings out basic rhythm flashcards.

1. Have the class review the patterns by saying them. (Ta and ti ti)
2. Place the flashcards in front of the class. You may want to tape them on the wall or write them on the blackboard.

Extension: You may want to use rhythms from Level 2 chart as well as rhythms from level 1. This way the students will be able to be challenged but the less sure students will feel comfortable with something easy.

1. Add the music to help keep the beat.

3. Keep the beat - using rhythms

1. Students follow the teacher in his/her rhythm patterns
   Example:
   

   Teacher: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Teacher: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta

4. Around the circle - students lead

1. Have the students go around the circle - in order - with each choosing a rhythm pattern. The object of this game is to keep the beat. You also want the students to choose something different than the person beside them. Challenge them to try something different than you. You may want the class to join with them on the second four beats.
   Example:
   

   Sally: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat
   John: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat
   Steve: 4 beats	Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat

5. Keep the beat - Crazy Time

1. Same game as above - except that the teacher calls out the name of the next person while the class is repeating the first person's pattern. This way the students have to think of their ideas more quickly

Lesson 3. Keep the Beat

Improvisation in basic four beat patterns using basic rhythms - found instruments

Objectives
Students will learn basic improvisation of a four beat measure through a game of rhythms. NOTE: The idea in this lesson is to teach the student to create something on the spot.

Materials
"Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" chant
Music, which has a steady beat - one slower and one moderate speed (*choose something the class already knows)

1. Repeat the Crazy Keep the beat game from lesson 2

1. Rhythm Flash cards are on the wall.

2. Teacher brings out a box of instruments for the class:

1. Found instruments: Pencils to click together, bottles, coffee can drums, spice jar "shakers", silverware to clink, etc.
2. Music classroom percussion instruments. These may include any of the following: hand drums, maracas, claves, wood block, finger cymbals, guiro, agogo bells, tambourine, triangles, sleigh bells, etc. *You want to use instruments which have a short sound. You do not want to use the gong, or chime tree.

3. Keep the beat - using rhythms

1. Students follow the teacher in his/her rhythm patterns. Teacher should play a hand drum, if possible. Students can see the bigger movements and will catch on more quickly.
   Example:
   

   Teacher: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Teacher: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta

4. Around the circle - students lead

1. Have the students go around the circle - in order - with each choosing a rhythm pattern. The object of this game is to keep the beat. You also want the students to choose something different than the person beside them. Challenge them to try something different than you. You may want the class to join with them on the second four beats.
   Example:
   

   Sally: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat
   John: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat
   Steve: 4 beats	Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat

5. Keep the beat - Crazy Time

1. Same game as above - except that the teacher calls out the name of the next person while the class is repeating the first person's pattern. This way the students have to think of their ideas more quickly.

6. Crazy game extension - student lead.

1. The student who is playing the rhythm chooses the next person to play.

7. Extension. Have the students play 8 beats (two measures) and the class then repeat. This helps the students build up their memory.

Lesson 4. Keep the Beat

Improvisation in basic four beat patterns using basic rhythms - Orff instruments

Objectives
Students will learn basic improvisation of a four beat measure through a game of rhythms using Orff isntruments. NOTE: The idea in this lesson is to teach the student to create something on the spot.

Materials
"Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" chant

1. "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" game with class.

2. Teacher has Orff instruments set up in the class in a circle: C G C G set-up

1. Two students at each instrument. If you do not have enough instruments so that the entire class can participate - you may use the percussion instruments that you used in Lesson 3 to supplement.

3. Keep the beat - using rhythms on Orff instruments.

1. Students follow the teacher in his/her rhythm patterns. Teacher may want to play one of the larger Orff instruments - a bass xylophone or metalophone. Students can see the bigger movements and will catch on more quickly.
   Example:
   

   Teacher: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Teacher: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta

2. Teacher will want to keep the mallets playing together at first. This will help the student s concentrate only on their rhythms and not on which mallet they should use.

4. Keep the beat - Around the circle - students lead

1. Have the students go around the circle - in order - with each choosing a rhythm pattern. The object of this game is to keep the beat. You also want the students to choose something different than the person beside them. Challenge them to try something different than you. You may want the class to join with them on the second four beats.
   Example:
   

   Sally: 4 beats	Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat
   John: 4 beats	Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat
   Steve: 4 beats	Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta
   Class: 4 beats	Repeat

5. Keep the beat - Crazy Time

1. Same game as above - except that the teacher calls out the name of the next person while the class is repeating the first person's pattern. This way the students have to think of their ideas more quickly

6. Extension: Have the students play 8 beats (two measures) and the class then repeat. This helps the students build up their memory.

Lesson 5. Keep the Beat

Improvisation in basic four beat patterns using basic rhythms - Recorders

Objectives
Students will learn basic improvisation of a four beat measure through a game of rhythms using recorders. NOTE: The idea in this lesson is to teach the student to create something on the spot. *This is a great lesson to pull out when you need to reinforce and review recorder notes and fingering. You can excerpt the class echoing of the teacher in any lesson.

Materials
"Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" chant
Recorder fingering chart flash cards.

1. "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" game with class.

2. Teacher and students has his/her recorders. Everyone sits in a circle.

3. Keep the beat - using basic four quarter note rhythms on B A G

1. Students follow the teacher in his/her rhythm patterns. Teacher may want to stand. Students can see the fingering and will catch on more quickly.
   Example:
   

   Teacher: BBBB	Class repeats
   Teacher: BBAA	Class repeats
   Teacher: BAGG	Class repeats

2. Teacher will want to keep it simple at first. This will help the student s concentrate only on their rhythms and not on their fingering. Later, Mix it up with BAGB or GBAB. You may want to add in other notes your students know.

4. Keep the beat - Around the circle - students lead

1. Have the students go around the circle - in order - with each choosing a rhythm pattern. The object of this game is to keep the beat. You also want the students to choose something different than the person beside them. Challenge them to try something different than you. You may want the class to join with them on the second four beats.

5. Keep the beat - Crazy Time

1. Same game as above - except that the teacher calls out the name of the next person while the class is repeating the first person's pattern. This way the students have to think of their ideas more quickly

6. Extension: Have the students play 8 beats (two measures) and the class then repeat. This helps the students build up their memory.

William Grant Still Links