Folk songs and the minor pentachord
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can follow the melodic shape of minor tonality folk songs, singing and signing the minor pentachord and framing this with a drone accompaniment.
Key learning points
- The minor pentachord is the first five notes of the minor scale: la, ti, do, re, mi.
- Folk songs can be accompanied or unaccompanied.
- Adding a drone underneath a song adds another layer of sound to the texture of the piece.
- To be able to accompany songs effectively, we need to be able to play with a sound sense of pulse.
- We need to consider the dynamic balance when adding accompaniments to songs.
Keywords
Minor pentachord - the first five notes of the minor scale: la, ti, do, re, mi
Accompaniment - a musical part that supports the main melody or chant
Drone - a constant, pitched sound that continues throughout a piece of music
Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds
Dynamics - how loud or quiet the music is
Common misconception
Music can only be major or minor in tonality.
Music can be tonal - major, minor or other using modes. Music can also be atonal or go beyond tonality, not having a traditional sense of key or tonal note.
Teacher tip
Pupils can find it difficult to count in three (often they add a sneaky silent fourth count). Take time to practise counting to three with a waltz-like feel before applying this to instruments.
Equipment
Pitched percussion, notes D and A, e.g. percussion tubes, chime bars, glockenspiels, hand bells or xylophones.
Licence
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