The SS 1 Scheme of Work for the second term is an essential guide for students, educators, and music enthusiasts alike. This scheme outlines the key topics covered during the second term, allowing students to explore various aspects of music theory, history, and practical skills. Below is a detailed breakdown of the second-term scheme of work for SS 1 students, with in-depth explanations for each topic, ensuring that both novice and experienced learners can benefit from this guide. The information is structured in a way that provides a comprehensive understanding of each topic, allowing for effective teaching and learning.
Scheme of Work Overview
| Week(s) | Topic(s) | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Notation: Staff and Tonic Solfa | Introduction to musical notation systems, staff lines, and tonic solfa for representing musical sounds. |
| Week 2 | Scales | Explanation of musical scales, types of scales, and their significance in music theory. |
| Week 3 | Transcription | The art of writing music from audio or from memory. Students will learn how to transcribe melodies and rhythms accurately. |
| Week 4 | Intervals | Understanding the distance between two notes, learning about different types of intervals. |
| Week 5 | Cadences | Study of musical cadences, which are sequences of chords that conclude phrases or sections in music. |
| Week 6 | Musical Instrument (Study Skills) | The study and understanding of different musical instruments, including practical skills and basic techniques. |
| Week 7 | Ensemble Playing (African Dance Style) | Learning how to play in an ensemble, focusing on African dance rhythms and styles, and the role of instruments in these performances. |
| Week 8 | Identification of Tones / Pitches | Identifying different musical tones and pitches by ear and sight, helping students develop their auditory perception and musical literacy. |
| Week 9 | Rhythm Dictation | The practice of transcribing rhythms as they are heard, a crucial skill for developing rhythmic accuracy and notation. |
| Week 10 | Maintenance and Care of Tools and Pre-Colonial African Music | Overview of how to maintain musical instruments and a study of the role of music in pre-colonial African culture. |
| Week 11 | Western Music: Medieval Period | Introduction to the history of Western music, focusing on the medieval period and its influence on modern music. |
| Week 12 | Revision | Review of all the topics covered during the term, ensuring that students have a solid understanding of all concepts before exams. |
| Week 13 | Exams | Evaluation of students’ understanding through exams, assessing their grasp of the key concepts learned throughout the term. |
Detailed Explanation of Each Topic
Week 1: Notation: Staff and Tonic Solfa
Content: In this week, students are introduced to the basics of musical notation, particularly the staff and tonic solfa. The staff is a set of five horizontal lines that represent different pitches. The tonic solfa, also known as solfège, is a system used to teach pitch and sight singing, where syllables are assigned to the different notes of the scale (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti).
- Example 1: The note “C” on the staff corresponds to “Do” in tonic solfa.
- Example 2: The note “D” corresponds to “Re”.
- Example 3: “Mi” corresponds to the note “E”.
- Example 4: “Fa” corresponds to the note “F”.
- Example 5: “Sol” corresponds to “G”.
- Example 6: “La” corresponds to “A”. By the end of this week, students should be able to identify notes on the staff and sing using tonic solfa.
Week 2: Scales
Content: A scale is a series of musical notes arranged in ascending or descending order. The two most commonly used scales in music are major and minor scales. The major scale has a happy, bright sound, while the minor scale often sounds sad or melancholic.
- Example 1: The C Major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C).
- Example 2: The A Minor scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A).
- Example 3: The G Major scale (G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G).
- Example 4: The F Major scale (F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F).
- Example 5: The B Flat Major scale (Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb).
- Example 6: The D Minor scale (D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D). Students will practice identifying and playing these scales, focusing on the pattern of whole and half steps between the notes.
Week 3: Transcription
Content: Transcription involves writing down music that is heard. In this lesson, students will learn how to transcribe both melodies and rhythms from sound to written notation.
- Example 1: Transcribing a simple melody from “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”.
- Example 2: Writing down a short rhythmic pattern of quarter notes and eighth notes.
- Example 3: Notating a piano piece after listening to it.
- Example 4: Transcribing a drum beat.
- Example 5: Writing down a short vocal phrase.
- Example 6: Transcribing a chord progression played on a guitar. Students will also be taught various tools and techniques for transcription, focusing on accuracy.
Week 4: Intervals
Content: An interval is the distance between two notes, measured by the number of steps between them. Different types of intervals include perfect, major, minor, augmented, and diminished.
- Example 1: A perfect fifth interval (C to G).
- Example 2: A major third interval (C to E).
- Example 3: A minor second interval (C to C#).
- Example 4: An augmented fourth interval (C to F#).
- Example 5: A diminished seventh interval (C to B).
- Example 6: A perfect octave interval (C to the next higher C). Students will learn to recognize and measure intervals both by sight and by ear.
Week 5: Cadences
Content: Cadences are the closing sections of a musical phrase. They provide a sense of resolution, like a period at the end of a sentence. Common cadences include perfect, imperfect, plagal, and deceptive cadences.
- Example 1: A perfect cadence (V-I in C Major: G – C).
- Example 2: An imperfect cadence (I-V in C Major: C – G).
- Example 3: A plagal cadence (IV-I in C Major: F – C).
- Example 4: A deceptive cadence (V-vi in C Major: G – Am).
- Example 5: A half cadence (ending on V).
- Example 6: An authentic cadence (I-V-I). By understanding cadences, students will be able to better interpret musical phrases and compositions.
Week 6: Musical Instrument (Study Skills)
Content: This week focuses on understanding different musical instruments, their families (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion), and basic study skills for learning how to play them.
- Example 1: The violin (string instrument).
- Example 2: The flute (woodwind instrument).
- Example 3: The trumpet (brass instrument).
- Example 4: The drums (percussion instrument).
- Example 5: The piano (keyboard instrument).
- Example 6: The guitar (string instrument). Students will explore techniques to effectively practice these instruments and understand the roles of each in different music ensembles.
Week 7: Ensemble Playing (African Dance Style)
Content: Ensemble playing refers to playing music together with other musicians. This week, students will focus on learning to play in a group, emphasizing African dance rhythms and styles.
- Example 1: The use of djembe drums in African dance music.
- Example 2: Playing the balafon in an ensemble.
- Example 3: Incorporating call and response patterns in ensemble playing.
- Example 4: Performing a traditional Yoruba dance rhythm.
- Example 5: Understanding the role of percussion in African dance.
- Example 6: Using the shekere in African ensemble music. Students will learn the dynamics of playing in a group and the importance of timing and rhythm in ensemble music.
Week 8: Identification of Tones / Pitches
Content: This lesson focuses on identifying musical tones and pitches, helping students improve their listening skills and musical ear.
- Example 1: Identifying the note C on the piano.
- Example 2: Singing the note “Do” accurately.
- Example 3: Playing a pitch on a guitar and identifying it.
- Example 4: Using a tuner to identify pitch on an instrument.
- Example 5: Listening to a melody and identifying the starting pitch.
- Example 6: Identifying pitch changes in a musical scale. Students will practice these skills using both written and aural exercises.
Week 9: Rhythm Dictation
Content: In rhythm dictation, students will listen to rhythms and then write them down in standard notation. This helps develop accurate rhythmic listening and writing skills.
- Example 1: Dictating a rhythm of quarter notes and half notes.
- Example 2: Writing a rhythm pattern of eighth notes.
- Example 3: Transcribing syncopated rhythms.
- Example 4: Dictating rhythms using rests.
- Example 5: Writing complex time signatures like 6/8.
- Example 6: Transcribing polyrhythms. Students will improve their ability to hear and reproduce rhythms accurately.
Week 10: Maintenance and Care of Tools and Pre-Colonial African Music
Content: Proper maintenance of musical instruments is essential for their longevity. This week also explores the significance of pre-colonial African music.
- Example 1: Cleaning a brass instrument like a trumpet.
- Example 2: Tuning a string instrument like a violin.
- Example 3: Caring for woodwind instruments like a flute.
- Example 4: Maintaining a drum kit.
- Example 5: Learning about traditional African musical instruments like the balafon.
- Example 6: Exploring the role of music in African societies before colonization. Students will gain both practical skills and historical knowledge.
Week 11: Western Music: Medieval Period
Content: The medieval period in Western music laid the foundation for much of today’s music. Students will learn about Gregorian chant, early polyphony, and the development of musical notation.
- Example 1: Listening to Gregorian chant (e.g., “Ave Maria”).
- Example 2: Exploring the music of Hildegard of Bingen.
- Example 3: Learning about the development of polyphony.
- Example 4: Studying the role of the church in medieval music.
- Example 5: Understanding the early use of musical notation.
- Example 6: Identifying instruments used during the medieval period. This lesson will introduce students to the rich history of Western music.
Week 12: Revision
Content: A week dedicated to reviewing all topics covered during the term. Students will have the chance to ask questions and clarify any concepts they may have found challenging.
Week 13: Exams
Content: Final exams to assess the students’ understanding of all the topics covered in the second term. The exams will focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Conclusion
The SS 1 Scheme of Work for the second term is an enriching curriculum that provides students with a solid foundation in music theory, history, and performance. Each topic is designed to build on the previous one, ensuring that students develop their musical knowledge and skills gradually and comprehensively. By the end of the term, students will have gained valuable insights into the world of music and be prepared for further study in their musical journey.
