Title: Innovations in Modern Music

Grade Level: Year 12

Subject: Music in Practice

Duration: 4-5 lessons (50 minutes each)

Objective: Students will explore and analyze innovations in modern music, focusing on various artists as examples. They will develop an understanding of the impact of these innovations on the music industry and their own musical practice.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Innovations in Modern Music

1. Warm-up activity (10 minutes):
   • Play a short clip of a popular song from the past decade.
   • Ask students to identify any unique or innovative elements they notice in the song.
   • Discuss their observations as a class.
2. Introduction to innovations in modern music (15 minutes):
   • Define the term “innovation” and discuss its importance in music.
   • Provide examples of innovations in modern music, such as electronic music production, sampling, and genre-blending.
   • Discuss the impact of these innovations on the music industry.
3. Artist analysis activity (25 minutes):
   • Divide students into small groups.
   • Assign each group an artist known for their innovative approach to music (e.g., Kanye West, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar).
   • Instruct students to research and analyze the artist’s musical style, production techniques, and any unique elements they bring to their music.
   • Each group presents their findings to the class, highlighting the innovations of their assigned artist.

Lesson 2: Electronic Music Production

1. Warm-up activity (10 minutes):
   • Play a short clip of a popular electronic music track.
   • Ask students to identify the elements that make it distinct from traditional music genres.
   • Discuss their observations as a class.
2. Introduction to electronic music production (15 minutes):
   • Explain the basics of electronic music production, including synthesizers, drum machines, and digital audio workstations (DAWs).
   • Discuss the impact of electronic music on various genres and its influence on modern music production.
3. Artist analysis activity (25 minutes):
   • Assign each student an electronic music artist (e.g., Daft Punk, Skrillex, Flume).
   • Instruct students to research and analyze the artist’s use of electronic music production techniques, such as sound design, sampling, and effects.
   • Each student presents their findings, highlighting the innovations of their assigned artist.

Lesson 3: Sampling and Genre-blending

1. Warm-up activity (10 minutes):
   • Play a short clip of a song that prominently features sampling or genre-blending.
   • Ask students to identify the sampled elements or genres incorporated into the song.
   • Discuss their observations as a class.
2. Introduction to sampling and genre-blending (15 minutes):
   • Define sampling and genre-blending, explaining their significance in modern music.
   • Discuss the legal and ethical considerations surrounding sampling.
   • Highlight examples of successful genre-blending artists (e.g., Anderson .Paak, Gorillaz, Childish Gambino).
3. Artist analysis activity (25 minutes):
   • Assign each student a genre-blending artist.
   • Instruct students to research and analyze the artist’s use of sampling and genre-blending techniques.
   • Each student presents their findings, highlighting the innovations of their assigned artist.

Lesson 4: Reflection and Application

1. Reflection activity (20 minutes):
   • Ask students to reflect on the innovations in modern music they have learned about throughout the lessons.
   • Instruct them to write a short reflection on how these innovations have influenced their own musical practice or aspirations.
2. Application activity (30 minutes):
   • Divide students into small groups.
   • Instruct each group to create a short musical composition that incorporates at least one innovation discussed in the lessons.
   • Each group performs their composition for the class, explaining the innovative elements they incorporated.

Assessment: - Group and individual presentations on artist analysis (Lesson 1, 3) - Reflection on personal musical practice (Lesson 4) - Performance and explanation of composition (Lesson 4)

Note: The artist examples provided in this lesson plan are just suggestions. Feel free to replace them with artists that are more relevant or suitable for your students’ interests and musical preferences.