Intervals and Melody

Curriculum Area and Level

Curriculum Area: Music Grade Level: 6th Grade US Education Standards: Understanding musical elements and concepts, specifically melody and intervals within major and minor scales.

Objectives

By the end of this 45-minute lesson, students will:

1. Understand the concept of melody.
2. Identify and understand intervals in major and minor scales.
3. Apply their knowledge by creating simple melodies using intervals.

Materials Needed

• Piano or keyboard (physical or virtual)
• Music staff paper
• Pencils
• Whiteboard and markers
• Audio examples of major and minor scales
• Digital projector (optional)

Lesson Structure

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting: Warmly welcome students to the lesson.
2. Hook: Play a familiar melody on the piano/keyboard and ask students how it makes them feel. Discuss briefly how melody is the tune or main theme of the music.

Explanation and Demonstration (10 minutes)

1. Define Melody: Explain that the melody is a sequence of notes that are perceived as a single entity.
2. Intervals: Introduce the concept of intervals (the distance between two notes).
   • Major Scale: Play the C Major scale on the piano/keyboard and explain that it's a series of whole and half steps.
   • Intervals in Major Scale: Explain and demonstrate intervals like major second, major third, perfect fourth, and perfect fifth within the C Major scale.
   • Minor Scale: Play the A Minor scale and explain its construction.
   • Intervals in Minor Scale: Demonstrate intervals like minor second, minor third, and perfect fourth within the A Minor scale.
3. Visual Aids: Use the whiteboard to write out the C Major and A Minor scales, highlighting the intervals.

Guided Practice (10 minutes)

1. Interactive Activity: Hand out music staff paper and pencils.
2. Interval Identification: Play different intervals on the piano/keyboard and have students notate the intervals on their staff paper.
   • Example: Play C to E and ask students to write down this interval (major third).

Independent Practice (10 minutes)

1. Create a Melody: Have students create a simple 4-measure melody using intervals from the C Major scale.
2. Sharing: Allow a few students to volunteer and share their melodies with the class by playing them on the piano/keyboard.

Review and Assessment (5 minutes)

1. Quick Quiz: Ask students quick verbal questions about what intervals and melody are.
   • Example: "What is an interval?" "What is the difference between a major third and a minor third?"
2. Exit Ticket: Have students write down one thing they learned about melody and intervals today and one question they still have.

Homework (Optional)

Ask students to listen to their favorite song at home and try to identify at least two intervals they hear within the melody.

Conclusion

Summarize the key points discussed in the lesson and reiterate the importance of understanding intervals in creating melodies. Encourage students to practice identifying intervals in different scales and using them to create their own music.

Reflection (For Teacher)

• Were students able to understand and identify intervals in major and minor scales?
• Did the students create melodies successfully using the intervals?
• What could be improved in future lessons?