JK - Lesson Plan: Lesson 11

Complementary Studies: Liam Marley

Date: 03/03/08 (J Kosminsky)
Planning Time: 2hrs
Lesson Time: 1hr


Lesson Footage:




(1O MINUTE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE HOUR LESSON)


This lesson would act as a recap on multiple subjects, taught over the period of the bass tutorials. The major scale section that was introduced in the last lesson will be studied and played again by the pupil, while ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ will this time be played to a beat. Finally the pupil will be given a more in depth explanation of music theory, which will fresh the pupil’s knowledge if they have forgotten the theory taught in lessons four and five.


Lesson Objectives:

1.) To initiate the pupil into the ten-minute practice routine, however this time utilising the scale of C major in the chromatic finger per fret form.

2.) To go through the scale of C major with the pupil in more detail, verifying that they understand the subject.

3.) To persist learning ‘The Ballad Of John and Yoko’ by The Beatles.

4.) To give a more thorough explanation of music theory, in terms of beats and bars, rhythm (note lengths), the music staff and the bass clef.


Introduction:

The pupil will be asked how he/she thought the previous lesson had gone and whether they are anxious about anything during this week’s lesson. After this the lesson ahead will be explained with some aims set so that the pupil has specific goals to reach.


Lesson Material:

1.) Instead of the usual practice piece, where the pupil would use the chromatic finger form to play the bass, fretting no specific notes, the pupil will use the scale of C major as a practice exercise. To be played as in Figure 1 below, the pupil will utilise all four fingers in a finger per fret manner, which will improve their finger technique, their knowledge of C major (scale), while helping them to warm up for the lesson ahead.


G -|---------------------------2--4--5------5--4--2----------------------------------------|
D -|----------------2--3--5----------------------------5--3--2-----------------------------|
A -|---------3--5--------------------------------------------------5--3----------------------|
E -|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
--------------2--4--1--2--4--1--3--4------4--3--1--4--2--1--4--2----------------------
------------------------------Fingers used to fret notes-----------------------------------

(Figure 1)



2.) Once the pupil has finished with the warm up exercise they will concentrate on the theory of the scale of C major. The pupil will be instructed to play the scale so that each interval note can be explained in simple terms.


Interval notes: (as stated by Clayton, p. 72, 2005)

C – D-----major second
C – E-----major third
C – F-----perfect fourth
C – G-----perfect fifth
C – A-----major sixth
C – B-----major seventh
C – C-----octave


The pupil is not expected to remember that from C to G the interval is a ‘perfect’ fifth, as long as they remember that it is the fifth interval note due to it being the fifth note from C in the scale. It is imperative that the pupil begins to learn major and minor scales, as these will help them to create and compose bass lines. The scale of C major is the starting point and will ease the pupil into the other scales.

Not only will the pupil play the major scale of C in the common form, (refer to Figure 1 above), but the pupil will be instructed to pay the scales using other notes. This is demonstrated in Figure 2, where C major scale is played primarily on the A string. This will get the pupil to discover new ways to play scales and will ultimately improve their fret board knowledge.


G -|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D -|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A -|---------3--5--7--8--10--12--14--15------15--14--12--10--8--7--5--3---------|
E -|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

(Figure 2)



3.) The pupil will persist practicing ’The Ballad Of John and Yoko’ by The Beatles, however this time the pupil will play in time to a pre-programmed basic drumbeat. This drumbeat will be set at a comfortable tempo and will improve the pupil’s rhythm and timing.


**’The Ballad Of John and Yoko’ tablature**



4.) With the involvement of music theory increasing with each lesson it was important to refresh the pupil with the notions of this subject. This is why it was explored once again in this objective so that the pupil can conceive as much information on this topic as possible.
Beats and bars will be briefly explained, as the pupil seemed to grasp this concept with ease, while the pupil will been given an in depth explanation on rhythm or note lengths, as this is the basis in which notes are played and music is written.

Last time the pupil was introduce to three note lengths - a whole note (which lasts the whole length of the bar), a half note (which consists of two notes to fit in a bar) and a quarter note (which contains a note for each beat of the bar). During this lesson two additional note lengths will be introduced, the eighth note, which consisted of two notes to each beat, meaning there were eight notes in a bar and finally sixteenth notes, which had four notes to a beat and therefore sixteen notes in a full bar. The additional note lengths can be quite difficult to play, especially at fast tempos. These will all be demonstrated on the bass so the pupil can hear how the note lengths work.

The music staff will also be explained to the pupil, describing the five staves and the bass clef, which is necessary to depict the bass notes.