Y2. Lesson 17. Major pentatonic scale

Students discover the five notes of the major pentatonic scale and practice them within a known song.

By the end of this lesson, students will have:

Students demonstrate their understanding of the five notes of the major pentatonic scale.

Prior learning: Trichord mi-re-do

Duration: 30 minutes

Materials:

Keywords: Beat, rhythm, singing, chanting, partners, rhymes, circle games.

Difficulty:

Prepare

Present

Major pentatonic scale

Practise

Marching and skipping

Students discover the five-note major pentatonic scale in a known song.

Project the simple score of Bluebells on the board, which shows the solfa instead of lyrics for ease of use.
Lead the class in singing the song, initially using the lyrics.
Next, repeat using solfa and hand signs. Pointing to the solfa on the board as you sing may be helpful.
Ask which is the lowest note [do] and sing it.
Ask which is the highest note [la] and sing it.
Ask how many different notes in total [5].
Ask the class to follow you, singing the five notes [do, re, mi so, la].
Ask students to identify whether the intervals between the notes are skips or steps.
Teach that these five notes are called the pentatonic scale.

Students read rhythms on the board and find the song.

Project the graphic on the board.
Ask students to clap the first line and tell you the song's name. There are some obvious hints to help.
Ask students to clap and say the time names.
When a correct answer is received, move to the second line and repeat the process.
Continue until all songs are named.

Students unconsciously move to 6/8 time in this classic game.

Students form a large circle and hold hands.
One student is chosen to patrol the inside of the circle, moving in the opposite direction of the students in the circle.
Lead the class in singing the first verse.
Students in the circle will move clockwise to the beat as the chosen student moves anticlockwise.
At the end of the verse, the chosen student picks another student to join them in the circle.
The game recommenced as before, but with both students moving in the opposite direction to the main circle.
At the end of the verse, a third student is chosen, and the game continues, with extra students being added to every verse.

Students echo sing intervals to discover whether they are in skips or steps.

Students are seated and attentive.
Explain that you will sing an interval, and students, as musical detectives, will respond by stating step or skip.
Sing the interval, and students should echo back.
Sing do-re [step]
Sing re-mi [step]
Sing mi-so [skip]
Sing so-la [step]
Continue in reverse order.
Extension: Repeat the process using hand signs.

Students deepen their knowledge of the tone ladder for the major pentatonic scale.

Students discover the notes of the major pentatonic scale on tuned percussion.

Distribute tuned percussion instruments so there is one instrument per two students.
If possible remove the unwanted bars, leaving F, G, A, C, D [in the key of F] or C, D, E, G, A [in the key of C].
Students form pairs. One student from each pair will follow you playing a major pentatonic scale.
When secure, students swap and the process repeats.
Ask the class what scale were they playing.

Students practise a pentatonic song with a bordun [drone] on tuned percussion.

Have xylophones or glockenspiels available and distributed for up to half the class.
Divide the class into players and singers.
Players will play a steady do or do-so accompaniment. on their instruments as the singers sing Buttercup.
When the class is ready, conduct students in singing and playing.
The song is based on the major pentatonic and is perfect for a drone-type accompaniment.