Summary

This lesson is about syncopation – students will learn the meaning of syncopation, determine the length of syncopated quarter and eighth notes, learn to clap syncopated motives and find syncopated notes in a 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...

• Identify syncopated rhythms
• Clap syncopated rhythms
• Make a connection between syncopated rhythms and genres of music

💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:

• Basic signs and symbols on the staff
• Knowledge of note values and notation
• Different genres of music

💻 Materials:

• Solfeg.io web app best used with Chrome browser
• Projector or computer and access to WIFI

Song suggestions:

Start of your lesson

🕐 5 min - Set up the classroom

• Log into Solfeg.io;
• Load your chosen song;
• Find the part of the song you want to play for your students

Warm-Up

🕐 10 min - Q & A

• Open the class with a discussion on syncopation.

What is syncopation?

How do you know a rhythm is syncopated?

Where do you think you hear syncopated rhythms?

What does a syncopated rhythm look like?

Can you make a syncopated rhythm?

• You can have an open discussion and/or record the answers on your board!

Practice

🕐 10 min - Exercise 1:

• Set up your projector;
• Listen to Bad Liar by Selena Gomez;
• Get students to clap the beat while the song is playing and see if they can figure out which instrument is playing the syncopated rhythm.
• Then, get students to switch and clap along to the syncopated rhythm. Once you feel like they are comfortable with clapping to the beat of the song and the rhythm, divide the room and get half the class to clap to the beat and half to clap along with the syncopated rhythm. Then get them to switch!

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🕐 7 min - Exercise 2:

• Choose another song;
• Pair students up and have them try to figure out the syncopations in the song. Working with their partner, they should practice clapping or tapping to both the beat and to the syncopated rhythm. The teacher can play the songs on repeat, giving a couple minutes between each play so students can focus and discuss their ideas.
• While the students are working, the teacher can circle the room to provide support and help where needed. When you feel like students are ready, get pairings to perform the beat and syncopation in front of the class.

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🕐 7 min - Exercise 3

• Choose another song;
• Go through these same steps of clapping or tapping the syncopated rhythms;
• Try to perform the Rhythm section of the whole song with Solfeg.io

Reflection

🕐 5 min - Q & A

• Points of discussion

Did you play better when you clapped/tapped the rhythms?

What are the commonalities between all three of these songs?

What are some other songs you know that have syncopation?

Beyond the Lesson

Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by...

• Doing a research activity where they find their own songs with syncopation in them.
• Taking a song that is not syncopated and trying to perform it with syncopation.
• Doing the “Introduction to Syncopation” quiz as a homework

Visual presentation

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This lesson plan was created by Gina, a middle school music teacher and creator behind @musicpluscoffee

Gina received her Bachelor's of Music Education in 2014 and currently teaches music at a K-5 school. She is passionate about making music resources that are cute and modern, while keeping the fun and love for music alive! She believes music is important, music is powerful and that music can bring people together. That is why she is so passionate about what she creates.

"It has been such a pleasure getting to know the Solfeg.io program and the people behind it who are also very passionate about music. I look forward to hearing and seeing how you use these lesson plans I created in your classroom so please reach out to me on instagram @musicpluscoffee."

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