Grade 6+ Lesson 4 - The Blues

Concepts: i iv v, create a blues song, harmony, mood, minor key

Teaching Objectives: • learn about the history of the blues• learn about the chords, melodies, instruments, form used in the blues• write your own 12 bar blues song

I Can Statements:• I can explain where and when the blues first appeared• I can tell about the musical style of the blues• I can write my own 12 bar blues song

Watch a Video About the Blues

Activity #1: Watch a Video About the Blues

Teaching Procedure

Save paper and ink! Just read the PDF and don’t print it. All the instructions are given in the module on

www.musicplayonine.com.

Song Used: Homework Blues

Listen to “The Homework Blues”

Notice the a a b form of the lyrics.

Activity #2: Listen to “The Homework Blues”

Write your own blues song!

Write your own lyrics (words) in a a b form using the melody and the rhythms of Homework Blues.

Activity #3: Write your own lyrics in a a b form.

Song Used: Lay Around Blues

Listen to the Accompaniment Track for

Lay Around Blues.

Sing your lyrics with the track.

Activity #4: Listen to the Accompaniment Track for Lay Around Blues

Optional Assessment

Download and print the worksheet.

If you don’t have a printer, write the answers to the questions on a piece of paper.

Activity #5: Optional Assessment

Optional: Learn More about the Blues

Activity #6: Optional: Learn More about the Blues

Teacher’s Notes: