Basics of Signs II: Accidentals
Recommended songs
Summary
Students will learn the meaning of accidentals in music, as well as learn the basics of circle of fifths. They will practice a song with a focus of exploring how having accidentals changes the sound of the song.
The timing and pacing of the exercises in this lesson plan example are approximate and will differ depending on your students' skill level. If the pace of this lesson plan is too fast for you, divide it into several lessons. If the pace of this lesson plan is too slow for you, explore the 'Beyond the lesson' chapter at the end of this lesson plan for additional activities.
⏰ Time: 40 min
🎓 Grades: 4-6
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...
- Read and understand what specific symbols mean.
- Listen and recognize accidentals in a song.
💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:
- Basic signs and symbols on the staff
- Knowledge of note values and notation
💻 Materials:
- Solfeg.io web app best used with Chrome browser
- Projector or computer and access to WIFI
Inspiration
🕐 7 min - The Emotions in Music
- Tell your students about different colors and feelings music makes them feel.
- If your students have already covered dotted notes or syncopation rhythms, remind them their purpose - to surprise the listeners through unconventional rhythms.
- Tell your students that it is possible to surprise the listeners not only through the rhythm, but also through the melody and chords - and here, accidentals come to the rescue with changing the feel or the mood of the song.
- Select students to answer:
Can you give any examples of a song that has a mood change throughout the song?
Did the melody change?
Warm-Up
🕐 5 min
- Choose a song from the suggested song list, play a section from it (e.g. Verse) and have the students focus on the notation of the song.
- Ask students:
What are some of the symbols you don’t recognize? Students may start to point out sharps and flats.
- Explain to students that sharps raise a tone and flats lower a tone. Neutral signs cancel out any sharps or flats.
Practice
🕐 10 min - Exercise 1:
- Listen through the song, and pause it as soon as an accidental appears. Ask your students:
to identify the name of each note attached to the accidental sign (e.g. G note);
to identify the name of the accidental (e.g. sharp/flat/natural);
to set up the song's visuals to piano on the Solfeg.io web app and ask students to identify where the natural note is located on the piano (optional);
identify where on the piano is the specific accidental located (e.g. for the G note, the sharp will be the next black key on the right, and the flat will be the next black key to the left - optional)
🕐 10 min - Exercise 2:
- Listen through the entire song (or a section) with the accidentals. Then, mute the vocal section, press play again, but this time - play all the accidentals as naturals.
- Ask students:
How has the sound changed?
Does it change the meaning of the sound?
Why are accidentals important?
Reflection
🕐 5 min - Q & A
Select students to answer the following questions:
- What did you learn about accidentals?
- What is the meaning and function of accidentals in a song?
Beyond the Lesson
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…
- Assigning the Quiz 'Introduction to Accidentals' as homework.
Visual presentation
Summary
Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson on accidentals in music. Integrate solfeg.io in teaching the functions of sharps, flats and naturals.
🎲 What's included in these activities:
- Describing the mood of a song;
- Finding musical symbols in a song;
- Learning what the function of naturals, sharps and flats is;
- Recognizing accidentals in a song;
- Comparing songs without accidentals to songs with accidentals;
- Reflecting;
- Ideas for homework & further lessons (Beyond the lesson)
💻 Materials:
- Solfeg.io web app best used with Chrome browser
- Projector or computer and access to Wi-Fi
The Emotions in Music
🕐 Time: 7 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Get acquainted with the accidentals and their function in music;
- Describe the mood of a song.
🎲 Activity:
- Tell your students about different colors and feelings music makes them feel.
If your students have already covered dotted notes or syncopation rhythms, remind them their purpose - to surprise the listeners through unconventional rhythms.
- Tell your students that it is possible to surprise the listeners not only through the rhythm, but also through the melody and chords - and here, accidentals come to the rescue by changing the feel or the mood of the song.
- Select students to answer:
Can you give any examples of a song that has a mood change throughout the song?
Did the melody change?
Recognize the accidentals
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Find musical symbols in a song;
- Learn what the function of naturals, sharps and flats is;
- Recognize naturals, sharps and flats.
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
- Open your chosen song, play the first minute of the song, and have the students focus on the notation of the song.
- Afterwards, ask students:
What are some of the symbols you don’t recognize? Students may start to point out sharps and flats.
- Explain to students that sharps raise a tone and flats lower a tone. Naturals cancel out any sharps or flats.
Identify accidentals!
🕐 Time: 7 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Recognize accidentals in a song
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
- Listen through the song, and pause it as soon as an accidental appears. Ask your students:
to identify the name of each note attached to the accidental sign (e.g. G note);
to identify the name of the accidental (e.g. sharp/flat/natural);
to set up the song's visuals to piano on the Solfeg.io web app and ask students to identify where the natural note is located on the piano (optional);
identify where on the piano is the specific accidental located (e.g. for the G note, the sharp will be the next black key on the right, and the flat will be the next black key to the left - optional)
Is it different?
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Compare songs without accidentals to songs with accidentals
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
- Listen through the entire song (or a section) with the accidentals. Then, mute the vocal section, press play again, but this time - play all the accidentals as naturals.
- Ask students:
How has the sound changed?
Does it change the meaning of the sound?
Why are accidentals important?
Go natural!
🕐 Time: 7 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Recognize accidentals in a song
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
- Listen to the same excerpt once again and invite students to do movements along the song:
They start in a standing position.
Every time the red line on the screen reaches a note with a flat, they should squat down.
Every time the red line on the screen reaches a note with a sharp, they should jump up.
Every time the red line on the screen reaches a note with a natural, they should put their arms on their hips.
Reflection
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Consolidate the knowledge on accidentals
🎲 Activity:
- Select students to answer the following questios:
What did you learn about accidentals?
Quiz
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Test students' knowledge on the functions of different accidentals;
- Recap the topics, as needed for each individual student.
🎲 Activity:
- Give the quiz “Basics of Signs: Accidentals” to students as an individual activity at the end of the lesson or as homework.