Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson in which students will learn to play the rhythm tracks of the song “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse, exploring different percussion instruments and playing techniques.
🎲 Activities included:
💻 Materials:
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
What things would you describe as 'supermassive' in your everyday world? (e.g. planets, skyscrapers)
What is the genre/mood/tempo of this song?
What adjectives would you use to describe this song?
How would you describe the rhythm section of the song?
🕐 Time: 5 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Tip: You can tell your students to concentrate on the red line on the screen. When it passes “1”, you should stomp your right foot, when it passes “3” - the left foot.
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
You can loop Verse 2 by pressing 🔁 on the right side of the “Play” button.
If the tempo is too fast, you can slow it down by pressing the “﹣” button up to 4 times on the left side of the “Play” button.
When you're comfortable with the slower tempo, you can try playing the verse at a faster speed and try to reach the original speed!
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Again, you can loop Verse 2 by pressing 🔁 on the right side of the “Play” button.
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Tip: The 1st rhythm line consists of eighth and sixteenth notes, so the students should use both their hands interchangeably (left-right-left-right) on whatever surface they are playing to ensure that their hands don't get too tired or tense. If they are holding the instrument in their hand (e.g. maracas), the left-right-left-right motion can be done with their elbows.
Again, you can loop Verse 2 by pressing 🔁 on the right side of the “Play” button.
🕐 Time: 7 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
Again, you can loop Verse 2 by pressing 🔁 on the right side of the “Play” button.
🕐 Time: 3 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Which of three rhythm lines did you like the most?
What were the differences between the rhythm track you played in the end and the other ones?
🕐 Time: 3 min
🎯 Objectives:
🎲 Activity:
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…
In this lesson, students will learn to play the rhythm tracks of the song “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse. Students will learn three separate rhythm tracks and perform them interchangeably.
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: 50 min
🎓 Grades: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson, students will be able to...
💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:
💻 Materials:
🕐 5 min - Muse is on!
What things would you describe as 'supermassive' in your everyday world? (e.g. planets, skyscrapers)
What is the genre/mood/tempo of this song?
What adjectives would you use to describe this song?
How would you describe the rhythm section of the song?
🕐 5 min - Get in the Rhythm!
Tip: You can tell your students to concentrate on the red line on the screen. When it passes “1”, you should stomp your right foot, when it passes “3” - the left foot.
🕐 10 min - 3rd Rhythm Line
You can loop Verse 2 by pressing 🔁 on the right side of the “Play” button.
If the tempo is too fast, you can slow it down by pressing the “﹣” button up to 4 times on the left side of the “Play” button.
When you're comfortable with the slower tempo, you can try playing the verse at a faster speed and try to reach the original speed!
🕐 10 min - 2nd Rhythm Line
Again, you can loop Verse 2 by pressing 🔁 on the right side of the “Play” button.
🕐 10 min - 1st Rhythm Line
Tip: The 1st rhythm line consists of eighth and sixteenth notes, so the students should use both their hands interchangeably (left-right-left-right) on whatever surface they are playing to ensure that their hands don't get too tired or tense. If they are holding the instrument in their hand (e.g. maracas), the left-right-left-right motion can be done with their elbows.
Again, you can loop Verse 2 by pressing 🔁 on the right side of the “Play” button.
🕐 7 min - Put it all together
Again, you can loop Verse 2 by pressing 🔁 on the right side of the “Play” button.
🕐 3 min - Discussion
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…