4th Grade

The Central Idea and Lines of Inquiry will be explored through the lens of music.

About the Unit:

This unit aims to support the inquiry surrounding exploration and migration from the lends of music. Students will explore (Inquirer) how music has been impacted by exploration and also the forced migration of Africans that led to Blues music. The students will gain an understanding of the impact a change in environment has on genres of music through Spirituals and Blues music. They will compose music based on 20^th Century experimentation, in particular Aleatoric Music (music by chance) using a dice.

During this unit, students will learn how to identify Major and Minor chords and how they are built. They will analyze the structure of Blues lyrics and which chords male up the 12-Bar Blues.  Students will be able to perform the 12-bar blues and improvise using the Blues Scale in C.

Where the Unit fits:

This unit will build on students’ understanding and appreciation of the world we live in, and the diverse cultural beliefs directly linked to music. They will make connections with how migration can impact both people and the environment. They will have a deeper understanding on how exploration impacts music and how its changed over time. They will learn how to improvise. They will develop skills in music notation, singing, performing, and appraising. They will understand the structure of a chord and be able to build them from the chord name. They will know what the 12 Bar Blues is and the structure of Blues Songs.