The second term of JSS 1 offers a rich curriculum designed to introduce students to the world of music, its elements, and the cultural significance of musical instruments. This article breaks down each topic of the Scheme of Work, explaining them in simple terms, with examples that even novices can understand. The goal is to ensure that the students develop a well-rounded understanding of music while engaging actively with the subject matter.
Week 1: Revision
Topic: Revision
Content:
The first week focuses on revisiting previously learned material. This helps students solidify their knowledge and ensures that they are prepared for the upcoming topics. Revision includes a review of fundamental music concepts like notes, rhythms, and basic theory.
- Example 1: Revising the musical alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F, G).
- Example 2: Recalling the basic music notes and their values (quarter note, half note).
- Example 3: Reviewing the concept of pitch and tone.
- Example 4: Going over previous lessons on musical intervals.
- Example 5: Discussing the importance of rhythm in music.
- Example 6: Practicing ear training to recognize simple intervals.
Week 2: Musical Notes and Their Values
Topic: Musical Notes and Their Values
Content:
This week focuses on introducing musical notes and understanding their values in terms of duration. Musical notes represent sound frequencies and their length determines how long the note lasts in a piece of music.
- Example 1: A whole note (semibreve) lasts for 4 beats.
- Example 2: A half note (minim) lasts for 2 beats.
- Example 3: A quarter note (crotchet) lasts for 1 beat.
- Example 4: An eighth note (quaver) lasts for half a beat.
- Example 5: A sixteenth note (semiquaver) lasts for a quarter of a beat.
- Example 6: Combining different note values to form simple rhythms.
Week 3: Musical Rest and Their Values
Topic: Musical Rest and Their Values
Content:
Just as notes have values that determine their duration, rests also have equivalent values that represent silence in music. Understanding rests helps students know when to pause during a performance.
- Example 1: A whole rest (semibreve rest) represents a 4-beat silence.
- Example 2: A half rest (minim rest) represents a 2-beat silence.
- Example 3: A quarter rest (crotchet rest) represents a 1-beat silence.
- Example 4: An eighth rest (quaver rest) represents a half-beat silence.
- Example 5: A sixteenth rest (semiquaver rest) represents a quarter-beat silence.
- Example 6: Understanding how to combine rests and notes to form a musical piece.
Week 4: Time Signature
Topic: Time Signature
Content:
Time signatures are crucial in music as they indicate the number of beats per measure and what type of note gets the beat. It is the framework for understanding rhythm and timing in any musical composition.
- Example 1: A 4/4 time signature means there are 4 beats per measure and a quarter note gets one beat.
- Example 2: A 3/4 time signature is commonly used in waltzes, where there are 3 beats per measure.
- Example 3: A 2/4 time signature is common in marches, with 2 beats per measure.
- Example 4: A 6/8 time signature means there are 6 beats per measure, and an eighth note gets one beat.
- Example 5: Identifying time signatures in popular songs.
- Example 6: Practicing clapping or tapping rhythms in different time signatures.
Week 5: Folk Songs
Topic: Folk Songs
Content:
Folk songs are traditional songs passed down through generations. This week, students will learn about various folk songs, their origins, and the cultural significance behind them. These songs often reflect the daily lives and beliefs of communities.
- Example 1: “Kumbaya” – a well-known folk song from Africa.
- Example 2: “The Wheels on the Bus” – a popular folk song in Western cultures.
- Example 3: “Jingle Bells” – a traditional Christmas folk song.
- Example 4: “Ode to Joy” – a folk song used in many global settings.
- Example 5: “Shoshone Love Song” – a Native American folk song.
- Example 6: Learning about the impact of folk music on modern genres.
Week 6: Classification of African Musical Instruments
Topic: Classification of African Musical Instruments
Content:
Students will explore the diverse and rich array of African musical instruments, which can be classified into different categories based on how they produce sound.
- Example 1: Idiophones – instruments that produce sound through vibration, e.g., the xylophone or the kalimba.
- Example 2: Membranophones – instruments that produce sound by vibrating a membrane, e.g., drums like the djembe and talking drum.
- Example 3: Aerophones – wind instruments, e.g., the African flute and the horns of various tribes.
- Example 4: Chordophones – stringed instruments, e.g., the kora and the balafon.
- Example 5: Electrophones – modern electronic instruments used in African music today.
- Example 6: Understanding how different cultures use these instruments in ceremonies and performances.
Week 7: Traditional Musical Instruments and Making of Local Musical Instruments
Topic: Traditional Musical Instrumentals/Making of Local Musical Instruments
Content:
In this week, students will learn about the making of traditional musical instruments in Africa, focusing on local craftsmanship and the cultural practices tied to instrument-making.
- Example 1: How the drum is made from animal skin and wood.
- Example 2: Creating a marimba using wood and metal for the keys.
- Example 3: Making a balafon using wood, gourds, and rope.
- Example 4: How to make a simple shaker using beads and a small container.
- Example 5: Crafting a flute from bamboo.
- Example 6: The cultural significance of handmade instruments in African music.
Week 8: Playing the Recorder
Topic: Playing the Recorder
Content:
This week is dedicated to learning how to play the recorder, a simple wind instrument. Students will be introduced to its parts, how to produce sound, and basic notes.
- Example 1: Learning to blow air into the recorder to create sound.
- Example 2: Playing the first few notes: B, A, G.
- Example 3: Understanding finger placement for each note.
- Example 4: Playing simple songs using the notes learned.
- Example 5: Practicing basic rhythms while playing the recorder.
- Example 6: Learning to play songs like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”
Week 9: History of Music
Topic: History of Music
Content:
In this week, students will explore the history of music, tracing its evolution from ancient times to modern-day practices. They will learn about key developments in music theory and practice.
- Example 1: Early music in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
- Example 2: The evolution of Western classical music in the Middle Ages.
- Example 3: The birth of jazz and blues in the 20th century.
- Example 4: The role of music in African traditional ceremonies.
- Example 5: The influence of gospel and rock on modern music.
- Example 6: The rise of pop and electronic music in the 21st century.
Week 10: Revision
Topic: Revision
Content:
This week is dedicated to revisiting all topics covered in the term. Students will review all musical concepts, notes, rhythms, and cultural knowledge they have gained.
- Example 1: Revisiting musical notes and their values.
- Example 2: Reviewing different types of musical rests.
- Example 3: Practicing with time signatures and rhythms.
- Example 4: Going over the African musical instruments studied.
- Example 5: Discussing folk songs and their meanings.
- Example 6: Reviewing the recorder playing techniques learned during the term.
Week 11: Exam
Topic: Exam
Content:
The final week of the term is dedicated to the exam. This will test the students’ knowledge of everything they have learned throughout the term. It will assess their understanding of musical notes, instruments, rhythms, and history.
- Example 1: A written exam on musical theory.
- Example 2: A practical exam where students perform a song on the recorder.
- Example 3: A quiz on African musical instruments.
- Example 4: A test on time signatures and rhythm patterns.
- Example 5: Questions on the history of music and folk songs.
- Example 6: Performance of a folk song learned during the term.