Reading and Singing the Notes
Recommended songs
Summary
Students will learn the names of notes in the treble clef and try singing them. They will try to recognize different notes in a song and learn where each note is located. Students will also try to sing the song with lyrics as well as note names.
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: 5-12
🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...
- Sing together with good rhythm and pitch;
- Write the notes and label the note names;
- Recognize notes in a song.
💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:
- Rhythm Pyramid
- Basic Knowledge of treble clef
💻 Materials:
- Solfeg.io web app best used with Chrome browser
- Projector or computer and access to WIFI
Song suggestions:
Inspiration
🕐 7 min
- Choose a song from ‘Song suggestions’ list together with the class (all songs are in C major). For example, ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ by Elvis Presley. Tell your students about the song! You can pick some facts from the song description.
- Click ‘Play’ and listen to the song.
- Discuss the song and ask students:
What instruments do you hear in the song?
What is the meaning of the lyrics and how are they connected to moral values in our lives today?
Do you know anything about the artist?
Warm-Up
🕐 10 min
- Explain what is a scale and draw a C major scale on the whiteboard.
- Label each note name and practice singing through the scale with your class (or sing various intervals, motifs from the song; use solfege syllables (Do, Re, Mi), numbers or note names).
Practice
🕐 25 min
- Have each student write out the C major scale with notes on the staff paper and make sure they have labeled all the note names (optional).
- Pick one part of the song, for example, ‘Verse 1’, press ‘Play’ and ask students to mark in every note they see from C scale in the staff paper.
- Discuss how many notes from the C major scale were used in this melody part.
- Play the part of your choice again and spell the names of the notes loudly, without singing them (you can clap the rhythm of the melody when spelling)
- Play the same part and sing the melody with note labels and practice singing in pitch. You can ‘Slow down’ the record up to four times and adapt tempo for your class level.
- Continue with picking the next part of the song, for example ‘Chorus 1’ and sing it with the note names.
Reflection
🕐 5 min - Q & A
- ‘Mute’ the vocal track (use the ‘Sound Controls’ feature) and sing the chosen parts with note names together with the class.
- Give positive feedback to each other and pointers to improve.
Beyond the Lesson
Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by...
- Practicing singing any vocal melody of the ‘Suggested songs’ list by the note names.
- Writing the note names and practicing spelling them for different melody parts in the song.
- Practicing to sing the song with the lyrics and intonating vocal melody in pitch.
- Assigning the Quiz "Learning the Notes in Treble Clef" as homework.
Summary
Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson on notes. Integrate solfeg.io in teaching the names of notes in the treble clef and their locations.
🎲 What's included in the activities:
- Getting acquainted with the notation of a song.
- Learning the note names of the C major scale;
- Practicing singing the notes, using solfege syllables, letters or numbers.
- Identifying the notes from the scale in a song;
- Singing a part of the song using the note names.
💻 Materials:
- Solfeg.io web app best used with Chrome browser
- Projector or computer and access to Wi-Fi
- Simple rhythm instruments (optional)
Inspire and warm-up
🕐 Time: 7 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Get acquainted with the notation of a song.
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
- Choose one from the suggested songs together with the class (all songs are in C major). Tell your students about the song! You can pick some facts from the song description.
- Click ‘Play’ and listen to the song.
- Discuss the song and ask students:
What instruments do you hear in the song?
What is the meaning of the lyrics and how are they connected to the values in our lives today?
Do you know anything about the artist? etc.
In C
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Learn the note names of the C major scale;
- Practice singing the notes, using solfege syllables, letters or numbers.
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
- Explain what is a scale and draw a C major scale on the whiteboard.
- Label each note name and practice singing through the scale with your class (or sing various intervals, motifs from the song; use solfege syllables (Do, Re, Mi), numbers or note names).
Scale in the song
🕐 Time: 25 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Learn to write the notes of the C major scale (optional);
- Identify the notes from the scale in a song;
- Sing a part of the song using the note names.
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
- Have each student write out the C major scale with notes on the staff paper and make sure they have labeled all the note names (optional).
- Pick one part of the song, for example, Verse 1, press ‘Play’ and ask students to mark in every note they see from the C scale in the staff paper.
- Discuss how many notes from the C major scale were used in this melody part.
- Play the part of your choice again and spell the names of the notes loudly, without singing them (you can clap the rhythm of the melody when spelling)
- Play the same part and sing the melody with note labels and practice singing in pitch. You can slow down the song up to four times and adapt the tempo for your class level.
- Continue with picking the next part of the song, for example, Chorus 1 and sing it with the note names.
Sing and reflect
🕐 Time: 7 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Sing the note names;
- Describe the singing experience;
- Give constructive feedback.
🎶 Recommended Songs:
🎲 Activity:
- Mute the vocal track (use the ‘Sound Controls’ feature) and sing the chosen parts with note names together with the class.
- Give positive feedback to each other and pointers to improve.
Quiz
🕐 Time: 10 min
🎯 Objectives:
- Test students' knowledge on the notes in the treble clef;
- Recap the topics, as needed for each individual student.
🎲 Activity:
- Give the quiz “Learning the Notes in Treble Clef” to students as an individual activity at the end of the lesson or as homework.