Lesson Plan for Blues Scale Singing Exercise

Grade: 5​ th
Duration: ​10 minutes
Core Music Standards: ​Perform, Respond, Connect
Repertoire:
Other Teaching Materials: c​ ards with rhythms, whiteboard (for writing out blues scale), possibly
some pitched orff instruments for help getting pitches (?)
Vocabulary: ​Call and Response, Blues Scale, Improvisation
Focus/Concept: ​this exercise will help students create one bar phrases using a blues scale
(hexatonic blues scale). The students will sing their phrase in a small group and then sing in
call-response form with the rest of the class
Lesson Outcomes: ​Students will:
● (Connect)​ Recognize that improvisation and call and response are features of the blues
● (Connect)​ Identify the notes of a blues scale
● Create​ one bar phrases using a blues scale and rhythms given to them
● (Perform)​ Sing accurate pitches and rhythms in call-and-response form

Teaching Procedure
Prepare
1. Give students numbers (1-6?) and ask them to sit in circles. Direct them to the parts of the
room where each group should be seated
2. Once students are seated, review the blues scale
a. Write out a blues scale (in c?) on the board (possibly have it written on the board
before class begins if possible)
b. Ask the class to identify the blue notes
i. (the lowered third, the lowered fifth, and the lowered seventh are expected
answers)
3. Sing through the blues scale once and then have the class sing with you
4. Explain that an important element of the blues is improvisation. Ask if anyone
remembers what improvisation is
a. Accept one or two responses
5. Hand out one bar rhythm cards to each group
Present
1. Give each group a minute to learn their rhythm as a group
2. Ask each group to clap their rhythm together. Offer assistance if necessary
3. Once all the groups have the rhythm down, ask them to create a phrase using the notes of
the blues scale and their rhythm. Give them 3-4 minutes
4. Walk around the groups offering assistance (possibly have them play out their
improvisations on pitched instruments)
Practice and Extend
1. Ask each group to sing/play their improvisations group by group (ask group 1, group
2…)
2. The blues also uses call and response. Let’s listen to each group’s phrase again, and this
time we’ll sing it back all together
3. Listen first to group 1’s phrase, everyone sings it, group 2’s phrase etc.
Assess and Close
1. Assessment portion is listening to each group’s phrases and call and response

Reflection from last class

1. I liked the background information I gave about the blues before the warm-up and the
question about instrumentation I asked afterwards. I think specifically scripting those
while I was writing my lesson plan helped. I also liked that the kids seemed to stay
engaged, even though I messed up a little bit. They were a great group of students to start
out with.
2. I wish that I had been more confident and used bigger motions. I should have rehearsed
all the movements I wanted to use in the warm-up before I taught it. I was a lot more
nervous than I thought I would be, and I think more rehearsal would have helped my
confidence. I intend on being more rehearsed for the next class.