6th Grade Dotted Quarter Lessons

Objectives: The students will, 1. Understand how to count dotted quarter notes. 2. Clap, verbalize, and play rhythms that include dotted quarter notes. 3. Perform pieces from their method book. Procedures: Day 1: The students will, 1. Unpack their instruments and briefly warm up on their own. 2. Set their instruments down and march in place to a beat. 3. Listen to the teacher clap a rhythm. a. Join in on the clapping when they feel comfortable with the rhythm. 4. See a visual representation of the rhythm on the board. 5. Verbalize the rhythm. 6. Open up their method books to #111. a. Discuss what rhythms are found. 7. Play through #111. a. Address rhythmic issues. b. Discuss 4 bar phrases. c. Have small groups play. d. Try different speeds. 8. Play #112. a. Address rhythmic variations. b. Discuss dynamics. c. Talk about “D.C. al Fine” and “Fine.” Day 2: The students will, 1. Unpack their instruments and briefly warm up on their own. 2. Review #112. a. Review verbalization of dotted rhythms. b. Practice “roadmap” of song. c. Practice switching between quarter notes and dotted quarter notes. 3. Play #113. d. Discuss that this one is now in 3/4 as opposed to 4/4. e. Talk about dynamics. f. Address air support. g. Have small groups play. Day 3: The students will, 1. Unpack their instruments and briefly warm up on their own. 2. Review #113. a. Address dotted rhythms in the context of 3/4 time.

b. Listen to teacher play song. i. Discuss what was heard (dynamics, articulations, precise rhythms, etc.) c. Perform song as full group. 3. Play #114 a. Listen to recording of piece. i. Discuss what is similar and what is different from our version of the song. ii. Discuss how we can apply these ideas to our performance. b. Play again with new knowledge gained from recording. c. Address dynamics. d. Play in small groups. e. Perform all together. Day 4: The students will, 1. Unpack their instruments and briefly warm up on their own. 2. Play through #114 as a review. 3. Clap through new rhythm in #115. a. Isolate each individual measure. b. Call and response between teacher and students. c. Piece measures together in 2s. d. Clap through entire exercise 4. Play through #116. a. Isolate each measure. b. Piece measures together in 2s. c. Play through entire exercise. 5. Listen to two different versions of #117. a. Discuss what is similar and what is different between the two versions as well as to our version. b. Discuss how we can apply these ideas to our performance. c. Perform #117. d. Check new rhythm in 3rd measure. i. Isolate this measure Assessment: The students will, 1. Clap a rhythm they learned by rote. 2. Verbalize a rhythm they see visually. 3. Perform their method book songs as a full group or in smaller groups. 4. Be called on to answer questions or will volunteer to answer when prompted. 5. Actively participate in the lesson.