Boogie-woogie
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can perform a boogie-woogie pattern on the piano.
Key learning points
- The boogie-woogie is an upbeat and energetic style of blues music that encourages people to dance.
- The piano is the key instrument in boogie-woogie.
- It is also a blues piano accompaniment pattern, which is said to sound like a train.
- This is due to the repetition, constant movement and tremolos that mimic train sounds. It is often staccato.
- Learning to play the boogie-woogie pattern with the 12-bar blues chords.
Keywords
Boogie-woogie - an upbeat style of blues music and the name of the piano accompaniment pattern used in boogie-woogie
Tremolo - alternating between two notes rapidly; sounds like a trembling effect
Staccato - when the notes are played in a short, detached way
Common misconception
Any note of the boogie-woogie pattern can rise and fall.
Whilst there are different variations of boogie-woogie, it is important that pupils keep the root the same and the 5th of the chord rises and falls.
Teacher tip
Pupils can also play the pattern in the right hand with a simple root note bass part in the left hand.
Equipment
Keyboard instrument
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.How many bars is the chord sequence in blues music?
Q2.What rhythmic feature characterises the bass pattern in blues music?
Q3.Which hand would we play the bass pattern with?
Q4.The piano and guitar usually play the __________ in blues music.
Q5.Which musical term describes when the rhythm emphasises (accents) notes in between the main beats?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What musical term describes alternating between two notes rapidly (like a trembling effect)?
Q2.Which is the main instrument in boogie-woogie style blues?
Q3.What is the tempo of boogie-woogie music?
Q4.Staccato means...
Q5.What is the name of the chord progression most commonly used in boogie-woogie music?
To help you plan your 8 music lesson on: Boogie-woogie, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 music lesson on: Boogie-woogie, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 music lessons from the The 12-bar blues unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.