Hot Cross Buns and Simple Improvisation on the Recorder

Suzanne Bailey
rid24923@ride.ri.net
Steere Farm Elementary School

TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:

Electronic Musical Instruments

Level:

Elementary

Class:

General Music

Equipment:

Electronic keyboard with accompaniments

Duration:

20 Minutes

Prior Knowledge and Skills:

1)Students must be able to play the note B,A and G on the soprano recorder.
2)Students must be able to read half note, quarter note and eighth note rhythms.
3) Students must be able to read the pitches B, A and G on the treble clef.

NAfME Standards of 1994 Addressed:

NAfME Standards of 1994: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

NAfME 2014: Performing 

NAfME Standards of 1994: Improvising melodies, harmonies, and accompaniments.

NAfME 2014: Creating 

Materials:

1) Soprano recorder
2) Yamaha keyboard with accompaniments
3) Overhead Projector
4) Overhead transparency visual of Hot Cross Buns

Objectives:

1) Students will be able to play the song Hot Cross Buns along with the keyboard accompaniment.
2) Students will be able to improvise a sixteen beat phrase using the notes B, A and G while being accompanied with the keyboard.

Procedures:

1) Teacher sets an accompaniment on the keyboard ie. Beguine or Bossa Nova etc.

2) Teacher models 4 beat phrases using the notes B, A and G and students copy.

3) Teacher plays 4 beat phrase and students answer with their own 4 beats. This is then done again using 8 beat phrases and then again done using 16 beat phrases.

4) Teacher plays first measure of Hot Cross Buns and students imitate.

5) Teacher reviews the entire song phrase by phrase while the students copy.

6) Teacher has the group play the song together many times. Each time the accompaniment style is changed but not the tempo.

7) Teacher has the students vote on a favorite style. That style is selected for the Rondo form. The A section will be the song Hot Cross Buns and the other sections will be improvisation.

8) Students play Hot Cross Buns together and then one student plays a 16 beat improvisation. This pattern repeats until every one who wishes to have a chance to improvise by themselves has the chance. Please note, I tell students that if they do not wish to improvise by themselves to look at the floor and not make eye contact. I then proceed to the next willing student.

9) Students get to choose another accompaniment. The procedure then flips and students are allowed to play the song Hot Cross Buns by themselves and everyone else joins in on the other sections improvising a 16 beat phrase using only the notes B, A and G.

Evaluation:

1) Students are evaluated one at a time on National Standard #3 when they play by themselves during the Rondo I.
2) Studnents are evaluated one at a time on National Standard #2 when they play Hot Cross Buns by themselves.

Rubric for #3
4- Played a 16 beat phrase using B,A and G with good sound and correct fingering.
3- Played 16 beat phrase using B,A and G with good sound and correct fingering with only a few breaks in format.
2- Played a phrase using mostly B,A and G did not always use the correct fingering and did not always produce the best sound.
1- Did not use 16 beat phrase, Did not use B, A and G . Did not have good sound or use the correct fingering.

Rubric for #2
4- Always played Hot Cross Buns accurately with good sound and correct fingering.
3- Played Hot Cross Buns a few missed notes with good sound and correct fingering.
2- Played Hot Cross Buns many missed notes and with mostly good sound and many correct fingering.
1- Played Hot Cross Buns with few correct notes. Did not have good sound or use the correct fingering.

Follow Up:

Try this same rondo format using different songs as well as different accompaniments. New notes and phrase lengths can be introduced. Suo Gan would be a great next song.