Major Scales
Aaron Strausser
[email protected]
Gananda Central School District
TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:
Electronic Musical Instruments
Notation Software
Level:
High School
Class:
Music Theory
Equipment:
MAC Computer, Triton Keyboard, Finale
Duration:
50 Minutes
Prior Knowledge and Skills:
1. Knowledge of note names on keyboard
2. Basic knowledge of imputing notes in Finale
3. Knowledge of the definition of a musical Whole Step and Half Step
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: Reading and notating music.
NAfME 2014: Creating
Materials:
1. MAC Lab,
2. Triton Keyboard,
3. Group Education Controller by Soundtree
Objectives:
At the conclusion of this lesson each student will be able to: 1. Play a major scale with 100% correct notes. 2. Play a major scale with correct rhythm 3. Notate major scales using Finale.
Procedures:
1. Play a few examples of major scales and occasionally play an incorrect note to have the students understand how a correct major scale sounds. (5 min.)
2. Discuss the pattern of whole and half steps that is used in a major scale (W W H W W W H). Each note must include a different letter from the previous note. (5 min.)
3. Have the students figure out the notes of the F Major Scale. (2 min.)
4. Play the scale together as a group. (2 min.)
5. Have the students open Finale, select an instrument of their choosing and create a file entitled Major Scales. (3 min.)
6. Save the file as “Student Name” Major Scales. (1 min.)
7. The students job is to figure out each major scale and play it on their keyboard. (2 min.)
8. They then notate the scale in finale up all eight notes on quarter notes. (10 min.)
9. The students will then move up a half step and repeat the same process until they have returned to the original scale for a total of 12 different chromatics. (20 min.)
10. Once they have completed the Finale document they must save it and submit it to the teacher. (By the end of class)
11. During this process the teacher will listen in to the students using the GEC as the students are figuring out their scales. During this time the teacher can provide help for the individual students. (During 30 minutes of developing scales)
12. This lesson can also be set-up to require the students to revise their work until they receive the 9 points possible for the grading rubric.
Evaluation:
Rubric: (3 Points Each in each category Total of 9 Points) toward marking period grade
The students can perform a scale of the teachers choosing of the major scales.
3 – Performed correctly
2 – Most notes were correct (6-7 Notes)
1 – A Few Notes were correct (1-5 Notes)
0 – No correct notes
The students can perform a scale of the teachers choosing of the major scales with accurate rhythm.
3 – Performed with a steady beat
2 Beat was steady most of the time (6-7 Notes acccurate)
1 Beat was steady occasionally (2-5 Notes accurate)
0 – No correct notes performed with steady beat
The student turns in the finalized Scale sheet.
3 – Notated correctly
2 – Most notes were notated correctly (6-7 Notes)
1 – A Few Notes were notated correctly (1-5 Notes)
0 – No correct notes
Follow Up:
Similar lesson with minor scales
Items to Purchase:
Finale, Triton, Group Education Controller
When budget should be submitted:
At your schools budget time
