Year 9

An Introduction to Disco!

In this lesson…

I will become familiar with Disco music by exploring its context and key features

I will be able to describe and identify:- The musics pulse/beat- A Hook or Riff- The Disco drumbeat

Context

Disco was the dance music of the 1970sIt was first introduced in nightclubs in the USAHad its roots in soul, jazz and funkLighting technology improvedPeople danced on their own

Clubs before the 1970’s

Clubs in the 1970’s

Feature 1: Pulse

What is a pulse in music?

Describe the pulse of this song

Feature 2: A Hook

What is a hook?

Part of a song that catches the ear of the listener. In other words it's a lyrical line, melodic phrase or rhythm that makes the song memorable.

Feature 3: Instruments

What instruments can you hear in the music?

What/how are they playing?

Feature 3: Drumbeat

Bass Drum Plays on every beat: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 (4 to the floor)

Snare plays on beats 2 and 4: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 (Backbeat)

Hi-hats play offbeat quavers: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

D.I.S.C.O!!! In what decade did Disco music start up?

Name 2 things you would expect to see in a Disco venue

Why does disco music need a steady pulse?

What is a hook?

Can you name a famous hook?

Can you describe the disco drumbeat? - What drums does it use?-What does each drum play?

How do people dance to disco? (Hint: Think about the John Travolta video!)

CHALLENGE!!

We are going to become ‘Disco Divas’ by creating our own group performances of a popular Disco track!

In this lesson you will…

Aurally identify the key characteristics of Disco, such as a hook

Develop your performance/ ensemble skills by learning to perform a part of a famous disco song from simple notation

Listening Task

Whilst you are listening, think about..

What instruments can you hear?

What are the instruments doing?

What key features of Disco can you identify?

What is the tempo of the song?

Bass line

C C C C C C C C

Keyboards

Drumbeat

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

X X

X X X X

X X X X

Available Parts

Bass line

Vocals

Drumbeat

Hook

Group 1: Classroom

Melissa DanniEmaJessicaGeorgia

Group 2: PA

KhaledaZoeLauraMichaelaRosie

Group 3: PA

OliviaEmmaHannahTyler

Group 4: PA

AmyRachel OliviaSarra

Group 5: PA

DaniellaAlexPhoebeSophie

Group 6: Classroom

TashaFloraRiaTilly

In this lesson I will

Show an awareness of disco musics context and key features by:- revising what we discussed last lesson- Putting what we learnt into practice by performing an arrangement of ‘Funky Town’

Show that I can play in time with others and/or a backing track

Disco music’s structure Introduction

Verse 1

Chorus

Verse 2

Chorus

Middle 8

Chorus

Outro

TechnologyExtra sounds are often added by drum machines Backing loops are made using sequencers Loops are played repeatedly throughout the song Microphone used to sing vocals Reverberation/reverb added to vocals Amplified instrumentsMulti-track recording

Performance Task: Individual work

Play the hook in time to a backing track

Play the bass line in time to a backing track

Play the Melody in time to a backing track

EXT: Play two parts at the same time

Performance Task: Pair Work

Play the bass line/hook/melody/chords in time with each other/backing track

EXT: Play two different parts together, in time with each other/backing track

Performance Task: Group Work

Make your own arrangement of ‘Funky Town’ Must be in time to a backing track Could include: - Vocals - Bass line - Hook - Melody -Chords (in the chorus)

Important Points You MUST play in time to a backing trackGroups must include instruments, can’t be all vocals Aim for at least 1 verse and 1 chorus Maximum of 5 pupils per group Be creative: This is your arrangement!

Parts available:

Lyrics

Keyboard Hook

Bass line

Guitar/keyboard chords (for the chorus)

In this lesson I will:

Demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of Disco music by composing a disco track that uses some key features discussed in class

Disco composition

What features do you think your disco composition should have?

Disco Composition Your compositions must have:

A Hook

A bass line

A drum beat

A simple melody with lyrics

Aim for an introduction, verse and chorus

Lyrics “Gotta make a move to a Town that's right for me Town to keep me movin 'Keep me groovin' with some energy Well, I talk about it Talk about it Talk about it Talk about it”

“Dance boogie wonderland Dance boogie wonderland”

“Burn Baby Burn, Disco inferno”

“You make me feel mighty real”

“Ah ah ah ah Staying Alive”

To assess your progress this unit using a self assessment sheet

To demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of disco through completing a short quiz