Country. Episode 4. Simple songs about simple things 1 OVERVIEW. Vocabulary Tremolo Folk music Pick Drone Slider. Unit 4 Music Styles

Transcription

1 Episode 4 Country Simple songs about simple things 1 OVERVIEW Country music, like the blues, has its roots in American culture. Born out of stories and life experiences, country is simple songs about simple things, and easily identified by its use of stringed instruments. After Quaver performs one of his experiments, he becomes an instant expert in country music, eager to time-travel back to its Appalachian roots, demonstrate his knowledge in a country music quiz, and tutor the house band in the art of writing and playing a country song. LESSON OBJECTIVES Students will learn: Country music uses simple form and chords to tell simple stories. Country music is generally played using a combination of these instruments: guitar, banjo, drums, bass, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, piano, and dobro. Country music evolved, starting in the 1920 s when it was primarily associated with the southern and western United States. Country styles include bluegrass, honky-tonk, western swing, country rock, and many more. Country music has developed specific dance forms including square dancing, Texas two-step, and line dancing. Vocabulary Tremolo Folk music Pick Drone Slider Resonator Square dancing Texas two-step Line dancing Quaver s Marvelous World of Music 2-1

2 MUSIC STANDARDS IN LESSON 1: Singing alone and with others* 2: Playing instruments 4: Composing and arranging music* 6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music 7: Evaluating music and music performance 8: Understanding the relationship between music and the other arts 9: Understanding music in relation to history, style, and culture Complete details at QuaverMusic.com Key Scenes 1 Phone box adventure to Appalachia What they teach Country music started in rural homes; the songs were simple stories about everyday life. Music Standard 6, 9 2 Quaver s Country Quiz The history of country music is revealed through a look at some of its iconic performers. 9 3 A country song writing bootcamp This step-by-step tutorial explains the basics of writing a country song, including the chords, the structure, and the instruments. 6, 7 4 Country Instrument Spotlight Dobro, banjo, and mandolin are among the acoustic instruments that give country music its unique sound. 5 Song: The Heat Is On A modern country song provides the sound track for demonstrating square dancing, the Texas two-step, and line dancing. 6 6, 8 2 LESSON INTRO Introducing the episode Often stories are shared from generation to generation, perhaps something about a quirky relative, a funny event, or a daunting challenge. Offer these topics to get your students thinking of a story they might share with other students. A Bad Vacation Sick as a Dog My Unusual Relative How I Got This Scar A Funny Thing Happened Big Birthday Surprise To jog students memories and set an example, offer a personal story. Then ask for several volunteers to share brief stories as well. Country music puts stories to music. Instead of Granny or Dad telling a story, what if they pulled out a guitar and sang a story? Ask students to imagine how they might respond. Broadly defined, country music is simple songs sung in simple ways. This episode explores the history, the style, and the elements required to write a country song. 2-2 QuaverMusic.com * concepts included in the Teacher Guide, but not in the DVD

3 Discussion Points 3PLAY EPISODE Name three of the famous country artists mentioned in the episode. The Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Bob Wills, Hank Williams What is a simple way to describe country music? simple stories told in simple ways Name two of the unusual instruments from the episode. dobro, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, acoustic bass What unusual style of singing is associated with country? yodeling Country 4 CLASS ACTIVITIES Is This Country Music? Purpose: How to differentiate music styles Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 Ask students to list some of the unique characteristics of country music, as described by Quaver and his friends. Next, have them take out a sheet of paper and number 1 through 6. Play the beginning of these six tracks, and have them answer the question Is this country music? by writing C for country and NC for not country for each track they hear. Materials Needed - Country attire - Colored pencils or crayons As a hint, remind them that country music often uses banjo, steel guitar, dobro, and fiddle. Play the tracks a second time, stopping after each to ask students why they answered as they did. See if they can name the other styles they heard. Track 1 Lightning Bolt of Love - country Track 2 Bach s Badinerie- baroque Track 3 Never Let the Sun Go Down - rock Track 4 Can t Steal My Heart - country Track 5 Yesterday s Gone - country PRINT WORKSHEET Country Rhymes Purpose: How to write lyrics that rhyme Track 6 Worksheet # 1 Most old-time country songs use rhyming lyrics. Using the worksheet, instruct students to add words to the song to make it complete. Ask students to sing their lyrics along with the backing track Country Rhymes (Track 6). Note: Song writing is often carried out in pairs or groups. Try doing this as a group activity. 2-3

4 Country Dances Purpose: Dancing to music Track 7 Country music is often associated with specific dances. Play Country Tunes (Track 7), and come up with a group line dance, square dance, two-step, or other dance to go with it. Make a real celebration with this activity by inviting students to wear cowboy hats, bandannas, and boots. Variation I: Divide students into groups of two or four, and have them work out dances to perform for the other groups. Variation 2: Ask a local dance teacher or parent to come and teach country dance steps to students. Country Quiz Purpose: To remember notable artists in country music Play the country music quiz segment from the DVD using the IWB. After watching the clip, split students into teams and have them answer questions about the four artists mentioned. Give the winning team captain a cowboy hat to wear for the rest of the session. Research each artist on the Internet, and have students listen to their unique style. Note: You may want to purchase songs or check out albums from the library so students can hear several songs by each artist. VIDEO REPLAY Simple Life Purpose: Learning a traditional country song Track 8 IWB 2 IWB 1 Listen to the song Simple Life (Track 8) from Quaver s visit to Appalachia in this episode. Ask students to join in with the chorus and name the instruments that are played. 5WEB ACTIVITIES QStrum Listen to the different ways a fretted instrument can be played. One method, called finger picking, is often used by country music guitarists and banjo players and can be heard in the music player. Have students experiment by writing their own country-style guitar music. IWB Play activities on your INTERACTIVE White Board Metro / Style Venues Learn all about the history of country music and its connection to blue grass, honky tonk, western swing, and others. Click on the map to locate the home of country music in Nashville, Tennessee. Listen to some down-home country sounds while playing the matching game or solving the country puzzle. Yee-haw! 2-4 QuaverMusic.com

5 Country 6 HOMEWORK PRINT WORKSHEET Unusual Instruments Worksheet # 2 Purpose: To identify instruments closely associated with country music Give students a copy of the Unusual Instruments worksheet. It features the different types of instruments that might be found in a country band. Ask them to connect the instrument to its facts. Song Round-Up Purpose: To respect the music of their families Assign students to ask their parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles if they like country music. If they do, students should jot down the names of their relatives favorite artists. If possible, have students borrow some songs to be played for the class. Additional session activities 7 ASSESSMENT PRINT WORKSHEET Country Assessment Ask students to answer the questions on the worksheet. Then play the following tracks for students to identify which country instrument is playing. Track 9 Fiddle Track 10 Banjo Track 11 Acoustic Bass Track 12 Dobro Track 13 Mandolin Tracks 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 Worksheet # 3 2-5

6 8CROSS-CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES Social Studies The roots of country music can be traced to a number of countries. Instruments prominent in these countries took on new life in the New World. The mandolin was widely used in Italy. The banjo evolved from instruments made in Africa and crossed the Atlantic as a result of slave trading. The fiddle tunes of Appalachia closely resemble Irish jigs. Ask students to track the history of these instruments starting with their origins in Europe or Africa. Were they derived from other instruments? Who played them? Did they appeal to high society, working people, or everyone? Research their arrival in America. Note that their use varied regionally. For example, mandolin ensembles were fashionable in large Northeastern cities long before individual instruments were introduced into country or bluegrass bands along the Southern mountain regions. Art Country music is traditionally associated with cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and jeans. Ask students if their parents have hats or boots that they can bring in for the lesson. Fashions like this are functional; these styles were developed for a reason. Ask students to come up with reasons for the design of western wear. Challenge them to come up with new clothing ideas for the modern cowboy. Have them suggest the materials they would use to make the clothing. Assign students to draw their designs. What other example can students think of that combine design and function? Why not wear cowboy boots and a hat while teaching this subject? Students will never forget it! My Country Song Purpose: To create their own country music Track 14 9 DIGGING IWB 3 DEEPER Using the IWB, play My Country (Track 14), a simple 16 measure verse and 8 measure chorus in ABAB form. Challenge students to create the melody and lyrics for their own country song. 1. Using the suggested chords in each measure, instruct students to play along with the track on Orff instruments or keyboards. Alternatively, play along to the beat using percussion. 2. Have students create a melody as they play the chord chart together. 3. Instruct students to write lyrics to go along with the verse and chorus. 4. Choose students to be lead singers and dancers! 5. Practice for a performance. Note: The chords on the chord chart will work for guitar and keyboard chords or alternatively as single notes for Orff instruments. 2-6 QuaverMusic.com

7 Featured Instruments TEACHER NOTES Country Acoustic Guitar Mandolin Banjo Fiddle Acoustic Bass Dobro Orff Instruments 2-7