Chord Group Exploration

Curriculum Context

Subject: Music
Level: NCEA Level 2 (Year 12)
Curriculum Area: The Arts – Music
Big Idea: Music is an expression of, and a way of connecting with, culture, identity, place, and time
Significant Learning: Students develop an understanding of harmonic structures by exploring common chord family groupings in the key of A major and applying them to performance contexts

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Lesson Overview

This lesson will introduce students to chord family groups in the key of A major. Students will explore the function of each chord within the key, apply their knowledge to well-known songs and engage in creative composition exercises. Techniques will include listening, playing, analysing, and composing.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this 120-minute session, students will:

1. Identify and understand the family chords in the key of A major
2. Play and recognise common chord progressions within the A major key
3. Apply these progressions to performing well-known songs
4. Experiment with chord changes and compose a short chord progression-based piece

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Warm-Up & Aural Recognition (15 min)

• Discussion (5 min):

  • Quick class discussion on what makes certain chords work well together.
  • Brief recap on major, minor, and dominant 7th chords.

• Aural Activity (10 min):

  • Teacher plays different A major family chords (A, D, E, F#m, Bm, C#m) on an instrument.
  • Students identify whether they are major or minor by ear and discuss the mood each chord creates.

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2. Understanding & Playing Chord Families (30 min)

• Introduction to A Major Family Chords (10 min):

  • Write out the family chords on the board:
    • Major chords (I, IV, V): A, D, E
    • Minor chords (ii, iii, vi): Bm, C#m, F#m
    • Diminished chord (rarely used – vii°): G#dim
  • Explain the “functional roles” of these chords in music (tonic, subdominant, dominant).

• Practical Playing (20 min):

  • In small groups, students play through the chord family using either guitars, keyboards, or chord apps.
  • Discuss how these chords fit together and what emotions they create.

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3. Applying to Songs (25 min)

• Learning a Song in A Major (15 min):

  • Introduce 1-2 well-known songs in A major. Suggestions:
    • "Slice of Heaven" – Dave Dobbyn (A – D – E – A)
    • "Something in the Water" – Brooke Fraser (A – F#m – D – E)
  • Play through on instruments while students sing or follow along.

• Analysis (10 min):

  • How do these songs use key chords?
  • Discuss if they follow typical progressions (I-IV-V, vi-IV-I-V).

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4. Creative Composition Challenge (30 min)

• Student-Led Composition (20 min):

  • In pairs or trios, students create a short chord progression using at least four chords from the A major group.
  • They layer rhythm patterns and, if confident, a simple melody or lyrics.
  • Aim for a 16-bar chord cycle.

• Performance & Feedback (10 min):

  • Each group briefly plays their progression.
  • Class provides positive feedback and suggestions for variations.

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5. Reflection & Wrap-Up (15 min)

• Exit Reflection:
  • What was easy/difficult about playing in A major?
  • How do different chord changes affect the mood of a song?
• Next Steps:
  • Students will prepare a piece for solo or ensemble performance featuring A major chord family structures.

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Assessment & Extension

✅ Formative Assessment:

• Observation of students' ability to play and construct chords
• Group discussion and contributions

🎵 Extension Activity:

• Students choose another song in A major and adapt it to an alternative style using the same chords
• Challenge to incorporate Māori waiata that use similar harmonic structures

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Resources & Materials

🎸 Instruments (Guitars, Keyboards)
📄 Chord charts & lyrics for selected songs
📝 Manuscript paper or digital notation apps

This lesson is designed to engage Year 12 students through analysis, performance, and composition while reinforcing harmonic theory in a practical and enjoyable way. 🍃🎶