Y4. Lesson 9. Prepare low ti
Prior learning: None
Duration: 30 minutes
Materials: Woodblocks or claves
Keywords: Beat, rhythm, singing, chanting, partners, rhymes, circle games.
Difficulty: 
Prepare
low ti
Present
Practise
Minor seconds
Melodic development
Students add a new song to repertoire.
- Teach this American folk song line by line. It contains the natural minor scale.
- The third measure has an interesting rhythm and may require some practice.
- This song will present low ti in the following lesson.
- This can be sung in canon with "Ah Poor Bird".
- Project the graphic showing the series of pitches in the F major pentachord.
- Students have previously discovered that fa is a half-step from mi.
- To show the F pentachord on a piano, the half step is the black note between A and B.
- This black note is called B flat. It is half a step lower than B and has a special sign written before the note on the staff.
- When we see this sign before a note, we must lower the note's pitch by half a step.
- Show students how to write the sign in their notebooks.
Rhythmic development
Students clap and say the rhythm of this classic English song.
- Clap and say the time names for the first four measures: [tika-tika, ti-ti, ti-ti, ta, etc.]
- The class should mirror you.
- Repeat with the last four measures.
- When secure, ask the class how many different time names are in the song [4] and to name them.
Creative movement
Students improvise body percussion while singing a song.
- Students are in a circle.
- Lead the class in singing the song.
- Demonstrate a combination of body percussion to stomp (stamp), patsch (patting the thighs with hands), clap, and click.
- The class should sing and copy your movements.
- Ask a volunteer to create a pattern and teach the class.
- Repeat with other students ideas.
Listening
Students listen and investigate the do major and la minor pentatonic scales.
- Play the first track.
- Ask the name of the instrument and which orchestral family it belongs to [bassoon/wind family].
- Ask how many pitches are played ascending [5] and descending [5].
- Ask if the pitches sound like a do or la pentatonic [la].
- Repeat with the other three tracks.
- This is an excellent exercise to develop aural skills.
Visual learning
Students discover a pitch below do.
- Project the Melody Street graphic.
- Draw student's attention to do and the empty house below.
- Starting at low so, ask students to recite the order of pitches moving upwards
- Ask if there is a pitch missing between do and low la.
- Project the keyboard graphic.
- The traditional note names are written on some of the keys.
- If do starts on C, there is a whole step to re and a whole step from re to mi.
- Remind students that musicians call a whole step a major second.
- Ask what happens when we move the other way.
- Is there a whole step or a half step between C and B? [half step]
- Is there a whole step or half step between B and A? [whole step].
- Remind students that musicians called a half step a minor second.
- The name low ti will be presented in the next lesson.
Instruments
Students
Part work
Students sing a D minor pentachord in canon
- Lead the class in singing a D minor pentachord and hold the last note for four beats.
- When secure, divide the class into three groups.
- Conduct the first group, followed by the second and third after the second and fourth beats. Students also hold the last note for four beats.
- The player shows how this will sound on a piano.
Assess
Suggested lessons
Y1. Beat II
Y1. Beat III
Y1. Beat IV