| William Grant Still: "Afro-American Symphony"
Improvisation Lesson Plans: K-1
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
1. Have students sit in a circle. Play the game "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"
- Begin the game by going in order around the circle
- 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.
- 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
3. Keep the beat - Around the circle - students lead
- 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
- 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
1. Have students sit in a circle. Play the game "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"
- Begin the game by going in order around the circle.
- Move into choosing students at random.
2. Teacher brings out basic rhythm flashcards.
- Have the class review the patterns by saying them. (Ta and ti ti)
- Place the flashcards in front of the class. You may want to tape them on the wall or write them on the blackboard.
3. Keep the beat - using rhythms
- 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
- 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
- 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
Found instruments
1. Repeat the Crazy Keep the beat game from lesson 2
- Rhythm Flash cards are on the wall.
2. Teacher brings out a box of instruments for the class:
- Found instruments: Pencils to click together, bottles, coffee can drums, spice jar "shakers", silverware to clink, etc.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- The student who is playing the rhythm chooses the next person to play.
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
- 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.
- 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 |
- 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
- 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
- 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
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