The Rhythm of Life

Overview:

In this 7th-grade music lesson, students will learn and practice the song "The Rhythm of Life" from the musical Sweet Charity. This lesson emphasizes choral vocal technique, rhythm comprehension, and ensemble singing, aligned with the National Core Arts Standards for Music Education. The session is designed to actively engage students in singing, rhythm exercises, and collaborative performance.

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Curriculum Standards Addressed

National Core Arts Standards (Grade 6-8 General Music):

1. MU:Pr4.2.7a
   Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work – Understand how the structure and elements of music deepen performance.

2. MU:Pr6.1.7a
   Perform expressively, with appropriate interpretation and technical accuracy.

3. MU:Cn10.1.7a
   Connections between music and life – Understand personal and cultural connections in repertoire.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Demonstrate the ability to accurately sing the melody and harmonies of "The Rhythm of Life" with proper vocal technique.
2. Develop rhythmic precision through clapping exercises and body percussion patterns from the song.
3. Collaboratively perform a short excerpt of "The Rhythm of Life" as a class ensemble.
4. Discuss how the song connects themes of rhythm and movement to personal and cultural experiences.

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Materials Needed

• Lyrics and sheet music for "The Rhythm of Life" (one copy per student).
• Piano or keyboard for accompaniment (if available).
• Audio track or rehearsal backing track of the song.
• Whiteboard or chart paper for rhythmic notations.
• Top-track student percussion instruments (e.g., hand drums, shakers, and tambourines) for rhythm activities.

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Lesson Structure – 45 Minutes

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1. Warm-Up (8 Minutes)

Goal: Prepare voices and bodies for vocal performance.

1. Breathing Exercise (2 Minutes)
   Lead students through diaphragmatic breathing:

   • Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, and gently release over 8 counts. Repeat 3 times.
   • Discuss the importance of controlled breath for accurate and sustained singing.

2. Vocal Warm-Up (3 Minutes)

   • Simple ascending and descending scales (e.g., solfege "Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol").
   • Focus on vowel placement and resonance. Playfully ask for "big, open spaces in your mouths."

3. Rhythm Clapping Exercise (3 Minutes)

   • Write a rhythm pattern on the board using quarter notes, eighth notes, and syncopations from "The Rhythm of Life."
   • Clap the rhythm together as a group; introduce body percussion (students can pat thighs or snap).

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2. Learning the Song (15 Minutes)

Goal: Teach students the melody, harmonies, and rhythms from "The Rhythm of Life."

1. Introducing the Song (3 Minutes)

   • Briefly discuss the song's background:
     "This song shows how rhythm connects us to energy, movement, and even life itself. It’s fun and lively!"
   • Play a recording of the song’s chorus. Ask students to clap along to the rhythm to start internalizing the pulse.

2. Learning the Melody (7 Minutes)

   • Teach the song in manageable phrases (call-and-response method). Sing one line; have students echo back.
   • Highlight proper breathing spots within phrases for vocal control.
   • Gradually string the phrases together into the full melody.

3. Introducing Basic Harmonies (5 Minutes)

   • Split the class into two groups: Melody and Harmony.
   • Teach one simple harmony line to complement the melody in the chorus. Use solfege if helpful for young voices.

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3. Rhythm Exploration (8 Minutes)

Goal: Sharpen rhythmic awareness through movement and instrumentation.

1. Body Percussion and Movement (4 Minutes)

   • Create a class "rhythm groove" inspired by the chorus. For example:
     • Snap, clap, pat thighs in a cyclical rhythm. (Snap-Snap-Clap-Clap-Pat-Pat).
   • Have half the class perform while the other half sings the chorus. Rotate roles.

2. Percussion Layering (4 Minutes)

   • Use percussion instruments to assign different rhythmic ostinatos inspired by the song's patterns. Example:
     • Hand drums: Steady quarter notes.
     • Shakers: Syncopated eighth notes.
     • Class performs in groups, combining rhythm with the melody.

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4. Collaborative Performance (10 Minutes)

Goal: Combine previous activities into a cohesive class performance of "The Rhythm of Life."

1. Perform as a full ensemble: Melody, Harmony, Rhythm Groove, and Percussion.
2. Encourage expressiveness and dynamics (e.g., louder on "spicy" parts, softer on the "smooth" lines).
3. Conclude with a short discussion of how it felt to sing and play the song as a group.

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5. Closing Reflection (4 Minutes)

Goal: Connect learning outcomes to personal experience and reinforce musical connections.

1. Facilitate a quick discussion:

   • "What did you notice about how rhythm shaped the song?"
   • "Did the energy of the rhythms make you feel more connected as a group?"

2. Assign a reflective journal prompt (5 minutes for homework):

   • "Describe how rhythm is a part of your everyday life and how it impacts the way you move and feel."

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Assessment

1. Formative Assessment (Observation):
   Evaluate students' ability to maintain sync in clapping & body percussion activities.
2. Summative Assessment:
   Evaluate group performance on rhythmic accuracy, vocal expression, and ensemble balance.

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Extension Ideas

• Teach students a short dance phrase to accompany the chorus for a performance-based learning project.
• Discuss rhythm in other genres, like jazz or hip hop, to draw cross-cultural musical connections.

Teacher Note:

You are creating a community of future singers & musicians excited by the "energy" of rhythm! Make it fun, but keep them focused—remember the magic of performing together.

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