y9 booklet unit 5

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Name _________________________

Music set _________________________

Form _________________________

Current level: ___________ Target level: ___________

Dynamics

What is this unit about? This unit is an introduction to dynamics and their associated Italian terms You will also use dynamics in improvisation and composition work

Where does it fit in? This unit builds on previous performance and composition work from units 3

and 4. You should be able to use knowledge gained from this unit to refine your

performances and compositions

Learning objectives - What you will have learned by the end of this unit:

Understand the use of dynamics in a range of music Understand dynamic markings in staff notation Analyse and evaluate the use of dynamics in music and film extracts Apply the use of dynamics to your performance and composition work

Learning outcomes - What pieces of work you will produce to be assessed: You will be expected to…

Add dynamics to a score Demonstrate the use of dynamics in a performance or composition

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What are dynamics?

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Why are they used?

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How are they written in music? Complete the table

Very softSoft

Quite soft

Quite loud

Loud

Very loud

Getting louder

Getting softer

Add dynamics to a songListen to the song and write underneath the words at least 10 dynamic markings, according to how you think the song is performed. For instance, if you think the first line starts off loudly, you would write f under it

There are worse things I could do

Than go with a boy or two

Even though the neighbourhood

Thinks I'm trashy and no good

I suppose it could be true

But there are worse things I could do

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I could flirt with all the guys

Smile at them and bat my eyes

Press against them when we dance

Make them think they stand a chance

Then refuse to see it through

That's a thing I'd never do

I could stay home every night

Wait around for mister right

Take cold showers everyday

And throw my life away

On a dream that won't come true

I could hurt someone like me

Out of spite or jealousy

I don't steal and I don't lie

But I can feel and I can cry

A fact I'll bet you never knew

But to cry in front of you

That's the worst thing I could do

What show is the song from?

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Why does this song use such a wide range of dynamics?

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Where are the loudest and quietest sections?

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Beethoven’s use of dynamics

After listening to the music on the next page, list all the dynamics used and say what they mean

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What does using such a wide range of dynamics do to the music?

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Film extractsWrite how these extracts use dynamics to convey the drama/emotion/tension of what is on screen

Extract 1

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Extract 2

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Extract 3

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Composition taskMake up a short piece of music to match the next film extract. Use dynamics to increase the drama, tension and emotions

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Assessment – circle your current level and your target in the next level

Level 4Your composition sometimes matches the action on screen. It makes simple use of dynamics to portray the action

Level 5Your composition matches the action on screen, making good use of dynamics to portray the action

Level 6Your composition enhances the action on screen. Dynamics are used effectively throughout

Level 7Your composition enhances all aspects of what is shown on screen. Dynamics are used effectively throughout and your music portrays all the drama, tension and emotion in the extract

Level 8As level 7, but with such obvious levels of skill and imagination that the piece and the performance seem professional.

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Key words and listening skills:Match each word to its meaning by drawing a line

Forte (f) getting quieter

Piano(p) very loud

Mezzo piano(mp) soft

Mezzo forte(mf) getting louder

Fortissimo(ff) quite soft

Pianissimo(pp) loud

Crescendo very soft

Diminuendo quite loud

I can:

1 2 3

Identify dynamics used in music

use Italian terms to describe dynamics

use dynamics when performing

1 – confidently 2 – fairly confidently 3 – not very well

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Listening BankCasey – There Are Worse Things I Can DoBeethoven – Pathétique sonata, 1st movementJohn Williams – Jaws, Jurassic Park, Minority Report

Homework and ResearchDescribe how a piece of music you have listened to recently uses dynamics

Further thinkingWhich is more scary – very soft or very loud music?

What other factors in music make it scary?

Why doesn’t pop music make more use of dynamics?

Do you use dynamics when you speak?

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Unit 6 - Drones

What is this unit about? This unit is an introduction to drones and how they are used as basic harmony You will learn how to use drones in your composition work

Where does it fit in? This unit builds on previous composition work and should allow you to make basic

harmony for your compositions, rather than using keyboard accompaniments


Understand the meaning of the word drone Analyse how drones act as simple harmony in a range of music Use drones as the basis for a simple composition


Compose a short piece which uses a drone and a pentatonic melody

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What is a drone? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How many notes are usually in a drone? ____________________________________ Which notes of the scale are they? ________________________________________ What kind of music uses drones? _________________________________________

Label this

Where you blow Where the melody is played One bass drone

Two tenor drones where the air is stored

Give 2 reasons why having a bag is a good idea

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Composition task Make up a drone pattern using F# and C# as low notes on the keyboard Add a melody above this, using only the black notes You can either do this as a partner activity, with one person playing the drone and

the other doing the melody, or you can take turns with your partner and make up a solo: if so, your left hand should play the drone and your right hand should play the melody

If you want more of a challenge, use a different key note. Your left hand should be notes 1 and 5 of the scale and your pentatonic melody should use notes 1,2,3,5 and 6

Scottish melodies often use a rhythm called a Scotch snap:

F# C#


Level 4You have composed a melody using a drone and pentatonic scale. Your piece is rather short and doesn’t seem finished

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Level 5You have composed a melody using a drone and pentatonic scale. Your piece seems complete and satisfying

Level 6You have completed a melody using a drone and pentatonic scale. Your piece has been extended either by adding a middle section, lyrics or parts for extra instruments

Level 7You have completed a melody using a drone and pentatonic scale. Your piece has been extended either by adding a middle section, lyrics or parts for extra instruments. Your piece is imaginative and satisfying



Drone a scale which only uses 5 notes

Harmony 2 notes played throughout a piece, acting as basic harmony

Pentatonic chords and chord patterns which accompany a melody

I can:

1 2 3

- Play a drone and a melody at the same time

- Identify a drone in a piece of music


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Listening BankTrad. – Achany GlenAfro-Celt Sound System – LaganAgnes Dickson – Walking SongPeatbog Fairies – Welcome to DunveganAnoushka Shankar – Rag Desh

Homework and Research Find and listen to piece of music not in the listening bank which uses a drone

My piece is ______________________________________________________________

Work on your composition

Further thinkingWhat is meant by the expression “droning on”?

Why is a drone bee so called?

Why are the 1st and 5th notes normally used for a drone? Why not the 1st and 3rd?

What are the notes of the normal pentatonic scale if you start on C?

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Unit - Major and Minor

What is this unit about? This unit is about major and minor chords and scales You will learn how to recognise, play and compose with these chords and scales

Where does it fit in? This unit builds on work done in unit 6 – instead of playing a drone you will now use

chords and chord patterns for your harmony


Understand the difference between major and minor chords and scales Analyse the tonality of various musical extracts Perform a range of chords and scales


Listen to chords and scales and decide whether they are major or minor Play various major and minor chords and scales Suggest suitable chords for a melody

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Presentation notes:

Major Major chords and scales are often associated with ________________ Playing all the white notes going up from C to C on a piano will give you a C major

_____________

Playing the notes C, E and G together (the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the scale) will give you a C major _____________

Minor Minor chords and scales are often associated with ___________ Playing the notes C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-B-C will give you a C major __________ – there are

2 notes which are different from the major scale – what are they? _______________

Playing the notes C, Eb and G together (the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the scale) will give you a C minor __________ – which note is different from the C major chord? ______

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C minor chord: C+Eb+G

C major chord: C+E+G

Semitone A semitone is the smallest gap between 2 notes on the piano It often sounds painful, sad or scary and was used as the motive for the Jaws theme

Tone A tone is a gap of 2 semitones It sounds more stable and happy than a semitone

To help you to remember Major – wedding, Silent Night Minor – funeral, Walking Through The Air Semitone – Jaws Tone – Happy Birthday

Play these chords: major or minor?

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Play these intervals: tone or semitone?

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Scales

Play this - Is it a major or minor scale? __________________________________________

Draw a ring around the 3rd and 4th notes and the 7th and 8th notes to show that they are semitones

Play the scale below – is it major or minor? Draw rings around notes next to each other that you think the semitones are

Play the following melody and choose a chord for each bar, choosing from C (C+E+G), F (F+A+C) or G (G+B+D).

Chords___________________| ________________ | _________________ | ___________

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Listening test Listen to the following items and choose a suitable word or words from below:

Major chord minor chord major scale minor scale

Major arpeggio minor arpeggio tone semitone

1 _____________ 2 ______________ 3 ______________ 4 _____________

5 _____________ 6 ___________ 7 ____________ 8 _______________


Level 4You know the difference between major and minor and tone and semitone. You can often tell whether a piece of music is in a major or minor key. You can play some major and minor chords as well as tones and semitones

Level 5You can tell by listening whether a piece is in a major or minor key and the difference between tones and semitones. You can work out and play any major or minor chord, tone or semitone

Level 6You can tell by listening whether a piece is in a major or minor key and the difference between tones and semitones. You can work out and play any major or minor chord, tone or semitone. You can use this knowledge to suggest suitable chords for melodies

Level 7You can tell by listening whether a piece is in a major or minor key and the difference between tones and semitones. You can work out and play any major or minor chord, tone or semitone. You can use this knowledge to provide and write down chords and chord patterns for melodies

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Major chords and scales the notes of a chord played one after the other

Minor chords and scales the notes used by a melody arranged in step order

scale any 2 or more different notes played together

chord often associated with happiness

arpeggio often associated with sadness

I can:

1 2 3

- identify and play tones and semitones

- identify and play major and minor chords

- suggest suitable chords for melodies


Listening BankWagner – Wedding March from LohengrinChopin – Piano Sonata no. 2, 2nd movementJohn Williams – Jaws themeHill - Happy Birthday to YouBlake – Walking Through The Air

Homework and ResearchName a song in your collection which is in a minor key

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Listen to Michelle and Yellow Submarine by the Beatles and decide which one is major

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Further thinkingIs major always happy? Can you think of a major piece which sounds sad or a happy minor piece?

What other factors make music sound happy or sad?

Why are double basses used to play the Jaws theme?

The Jaws theme is an example of a leitmotif – a theme associated with a character, place or idea. Can you think of another example of a leitmotif?

Teacher’s comments:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Targets for next time…_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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y9 booklet unit 5

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