Y3. Lesson 7. The Dotted Minim
Prior learning: The minim
Duration: 30 minutes
Materials: Recorders
Keywords: Beat, rhythm, singing, chanting, partners, rhymes, circle games.
Difficulty: 
Prepare
Present
The dotted minim.
Practise
A minim (or half note) is usually worth two beats in common time. Adding a dot to a minim increases the note's duration by half its original value. In this case, half of two beats is one beat. Therefore, a dotted minim is worth three beats (two beats for the minim itself plus one additional beat from the dot). Using rhythm time names, the dotted minim is often described as too - m [or other variations].
Melodic development
Students revise their understanding of a minim.
- Lead the class in singing the song.
- When secure, draw attention to the second phrase, starting with the word "Hey".
- Ask the class to clap the rhythm of the second phrase.
- Ask how many beats are on the word "Hey" [2].
- Ask what a note that lasts for two beats is called [a minim].
- Ask how many times a minim appears in the song [2].
- Remind the class that a minim is also called a half-note.
Rhythmic development
Students discover that a minim with a dot increases its value by half of the original value.
- Project the score of the song on the board. [Ignore the dotted crotchet and single quaver at the beginning of each line].
- Lead the class in singing the song.
- Draw attention to the last two measures containing two minims, a crotchet and a dotted minim.
- Ask the class to clap the rhythm of the last two measures. Each measure has four beats.
- Ask how many beats the final note lasts for [3].
- Explain that the last note looks like a minim but has a dot after it.
- Teach that adding a dot after a note means half of its original time value is added.
- In quadruple [4/4] time a minim lasts for two beats. With the dot added, the minim is now called a dotted minim.
- A dotted minim in this example lasts for 2 plus half of two (1) - for a total of three beats.
- Using solfa, the dotted minim is referred to as too -m (or too -a).
- This concept may take more than one learning period to reinforce.
Creative movement
Students have fun experimenting with body percussion to a known song.
- Students are arranged in a circle.
- "Baa Baa, Black Sheep, have you any wool?" Students pat their thighs with both hands to the rhythm of the words.
- "Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full." Students clap their hands together on each "yes" and then snap their fingers three times for "three bags full".
- "One for the master, one for the dame." Students tap their chest with both hands for "one for the master," then tap their shoulders for "one for the dame."
- "And one for the little boy who lives down the lane." Students tap their heads lightly on "little boy," then sweep their hands downwards towards their feet on "who lives down the lane."
- When secure, ask a volunteer to lead the class in other simple variations.
Listening
Students listen to a famous piece of music for Strings.
"Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber is a beautiful and emotional piece of music. It starts softly and slowly becomes louder, expressing deep feelings. Barber composed it in 1936, and it's often played at important events. This music touches hearts, making people feel both sadness and hope.
- Play the video to students for as long as time permits. The entire length is nine minutes.
- Ask students how this music makes them feel. Happy? Sad?
- Ask which string instruments can be seen and their names.
- Ask what is the job of the man holding the baton.
Visual learning
Students discover more about the dotted minim.
- Explain that the dotted minim lasts for three beats and using solfa it is called too-m [or too-a].
- Ask students to repeat the too-m sound and write the dotted minim in their notebooks.
- Remind students that a crotchet (or ta) lasts for one beat, a minim lasts for two beats and a dotted minim lasts for three beats!
Instruments
Students use three notes. BAG in this simple exercise.
- Students should now be familiar with the three notes recently learned on the recorder: B, A and G.
- This song uses all three notes.
- Students should hold their instruments correctly and play the song using the gentle tonguing technique of 'too' for each note.
- Students will begin by having the B note ready with their first finger in place and then move to A, then G.
- Students should follow the score, counting 1-2-3-4 in their heads [inner hearing].
- Monitor student's performance and listen for overflowing or squeaking!
- Remind students of the last note G. which is a minim and held for two beats.
Part work
Students are in two groups and use hand signs and rhythmic ostinatos in a known song.
- Divide the class into two groups.
- Group 1 sings Apple Tree with solfa and hand signs, and Group 2 claps a rhythmic ostinato that is read from notation.
Assess
Suggested lessons
Y1. Beat II
Y1. Beat III
Y1. Beat IV