Topic: Exploring Blues Music

Desired Outcome: I can sing and play music from a range of styles and cultures, showing skill and using performance directions and/or musical notation.

Level: Second Level (Scottish Curriculum)

Week 1: - Introduction to Blues music: Discuss the origins and characteristics of Blues music, including its roots in African American culture. - Listening and analysis: Listen to and analyze a variety of Blues songs, identifying common elements such as the 12-bar blues chord progression and the use of call and response. - Group discussion: Share personal thoughts and feelings about Blues music and its impact on society.

Week 2: - Learning the Blues scale: Introduce the Blues scale and its unique intervals. Practice playing the scale on various instruments, such as keyboards, guitars, and harmonicas. - Improvisation: Explore the concept of improvisation in Blues music. Encourage students to experiment with creating their own melodies and solos using the Blues scale. - Group performance: Collaboratively create a Blues jam session, with students taking turns to improvise and showcase their skills.

Week 3: - Exploring Blues lyrics: Analyze the themes and storytelling elements commonly found in Blues lyrics. Discuss the emotions and experiences often expressed in Blues songs. - Songwriting: Guide students in writing their own Blues lyrics, focusing on personal experiences or fictional narratives. Encourage them to incorporate the 12-bar blues structure and use expressive language. - Solo performances: Provide opportunities for students to perform their original Blues songs individually, showcasing their ability to sing and play music from the Blues genre.

Week 4: - Musical notation: Introduce basic musical notation symbols and terminology, such as treble clef, notes, rests, and time signatures. - Transcribing Blues melodies: Select a Blues song and guide students in transcribing the melody using musical notation. Emphasize the importance of accuracy and attention to detail. - Group performance: Rehearse and perform the transcribed Blues melody as an ensemble, incorporating performance directions and musical notation.

Week 5: - Cultural exploration: Investigate the influence of Blues music on other musical genres, such as rock and jazz. Discuss the impact of Blues on Scottish music and culture. - Collaborative project: Divide students into small groups and assign each group a specific musical genre influenced by Blues. Instruct them to create a performance that combines elements of Blues and their assigned genre. - Final performance: Organize a class showcase where each group presents their collaborative project, demonstrating their ability to sing and play music from a range of styles and cultures, including Blues.

Assessment: - Ongoing formative assessment through class discussions, group activities, and individual performances. - Summative assessment through the final performance, evaluating students’ ability to sing and play music from a range of styles and cultures, showing skill and using performance directions and/or musical notation.