Korean Folk Song Medley
James Ployhar
Teacher’s Manual by: Ashley Mims
Table of Contents
A. Teacher’s Guide
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Objectives with National Standards
Resources
Score Analysis
9-Week Unit Calendar
Formal Assessments
a. Performance Assessment with Rubric
b. Theory Assessment with Answer Key
c. Unit Composition and Improvisation Assignment
Objectives
Students will…
1. Perform the entirety of their part to Korean Folk Song Medley alone and with the
ensemble. (N.S. II)
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of major and minor scales through
performance on their instrument, with their voice, and through written assessment. (N.S.
I, II, V)
3. Improvise a melody given a harmonic progression found in Korean Folk Song Medley.
(N.S. III)
4. Listen for key and tempo changes throughout Korean Folk Song Medley. (N.S. VI)
5. Listen for and identify instrumentation of the melody and harmony in Korean Folk Song
Medley. (N.S. VI)
6. Gain an understanding of 6/8 time through performance and written assessment. (N.S. II,
V, VI)
7. Compose an original melody in 6/8 time over a harmonic progression found in Korean
Folk Song Medley. (N.S. IV)
8. Evaluate their performance as it progresses through the weeks and compare that
performance to that of other ensembles. (N.S. VII)
9. Gain an understanding of specific musical elements of Korean folk music through the
connection found in Ployhar’s work. (N.S. IX)
10. Demonstrate an understanding of and appreciation for another culture (Korean) as it
relates to Korean folk music through history, art, literature, etc. (N.S. VIII, IX)
Resources
1. Korean Folk Song Medley, James Polyhar Score and Band parts
2. Recordings:
a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_7N2fZVgt4
b. Arirang: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FlXH9CGnvw
3. Additional information on Korean folk music:
a. http://spotlightonmusic.macmillanmh.com/n/teachers/articles/folk-and-traditionalstyles/korean-folk-music
b. http://www.angelfire.com/alt/koreanmusic/folk.html
4. Finale 2011
5. Recorder (for recording ensemble performance and progress)
6. Projector
7. Staff paper
Rehearsal Marks:
Korean Folk Medley: James D. Ployhar
5: A, Beteul Norae 13: B, Beteul Norae A’ 28: C Andante moderato (In 2)
48: E Arirang Allegro (120 bpm)
56: F
64: G
72: H
30: Odoldogi
38: D, B’
82: Slowly
Score Markings: Moderato (108 bpm)
Measures
1-4
5-12
13-16
17-20/(21-23)
24-27
Form
Introduction
A: Beteul Norae
A’ section of Beteul Norae
A’ section of Beteul Norae
Chord Resolution
Melody
Woodwinds
Woodwinds
Woodwind and Trumpet
Woodwind and Trumpet
None
Harmony
(no key signatures)
Low brass; block
accompaniment
Low brass; block
accompaniment
Within lower woodwind parts
Within lower woodwind
parts and in block
accompaniment in low
brass entrance
Chord Resolution
in all parts
Octave equivalent,
unison melody with c
minor block chords
Octave equivalent,
unison melody with c
minor block chords
Unison melody with snare roll
Texture
Mono-rhythmic chords in
low brass with melody
continuing in high winds
Woodwinds with
brass/percussion
accompaniment
Woodwinds with
brass
accompaniment and
percussion keeping
the beat
High wind melody with
sparse percussion
Dense orchestration,
everyone playing
Dense, chords
with rhythmic
percussion
accompaniment
Dense, everyone
playing
Forte introduction
Mezzo-forte
melody with
mezzo-piano
accompaniment
Mezzo-forte to Forte
Mezzo-forte
accompaniment and
forte continuing in
melody. Mezzo-piano
percussion
Orchestration
Dynamics
Maintained
mezzo-forte
Measures
28-29
30-37
38-41
42-46
47
Form
Introduction/transition
to 6/8 time
Odoldogi
A section of Odoldogi
A’ section of Odoldogi
Chord
Resolution/fermata
Melody
none
High Winds
Woodwind and Trumpet
Woodwind and Trumpet
None
Harmony
(no key
signatures)
Low brass chords
Low brass; block
accompaniment and
harmony in lower
wind parts
Within lower woodwind
parts
Within lower woodwind
parts
Chord Resolution
in all parts
Chords with percussion
Low brass chord
Unison rhythmic melody and
harmony with triangle
Unison rhythmic melody
and harmony and snare roll
Dense, chords
Horn, low brass, and
percussion
Full band
High wind melody with block
chord harmony and sparse
percussion
High wind melody with
block chord harmony and
sparse percussion
Dense, everyone
playing
Mezzo-piano
Mezzo-forte
melody with
mezzo-piano
accompaniment
Mezzo-forte with
mezzo-piano chords
Mezzo-forte
accompaniment and
forte continuing in
melody. Mezzo-piano
percussion
Maintained
mezzo-forte
Texture
Orchestration
Dynamics
Measures
48-55
56-63
64-71
72-81
82-85
Form
Introduction of Arirang
(Allegro 120 bpm)
A: Arirang
A’ section of Arirang
Recapitulation
Chord Resolution
(Slowly)
Melody
Baritone, bass, and low
woodwinds
Uppers woodwinds
Most voices
Woodwind and Trumpets
Flute, clarinet, and
baritone
Low winds with
block
accompaniment in
low brass and
percussion
accompaniment
Trombones and bass
Low brass and percussion
Brass and
percussion
Percussive
accompaniment
Full band
Melody is played in a round
in most voices staggered at
one measure intervals
Full band with dense
percussion
High brass and
trombones resting, all
others playing
Everyone but
trumpets
Full band
Full band
Dense, chords with
rhythmic
percussion
accompaniment
Dense, everyone
playing
Forte introduction
Mezzo-piano
accompaniment
and forte melody
Mezzo-forte
Forte
Upper winds, drones
Harmony
(no key signatures)
Texture
Orchestration
Dynamics
Piano
accompaniment
in brass and
percussion with
mezzo-piano
melody
Nine Week Unit Calendar:
Week 1:



Students receive Korean Folk Song Medley by James Ployhar and related unit packet
containing warm-ups, practice excerpts, written assignments, and related rubrics.
Listen to recordings in class of Korean Folk Song Medley
o Evaluate performance
Students will learn 6/8 time through rehearsal practice and demonstration.
Week 2:



Discuss composition assignment.
o Finale Tutorial
o Discuss building major and minor chords
o Discuss building chords on scale degrees
Continue rehearsing 6/8 Odoldogi section
Once a week, students rotate going to lab for Finale
Week 3:




Cultural Discussion: Students talk about what they know about folk music
Discuss Korean Folk music section of unit packets
Continue building on phrasing and articulations of first two sections of the Medley
Students continue Finale rotation
Week 4:


Finale rotation continues
Begin heavy rehearsal of Part III: Arirang
o Discuss significance of “Arirang” in Korean culture
o Listen to a traditional recording
o Discuss folk songs we have and are familiar with
Week 5:




Bring all three sections of the work together
o Emphasize smooth transitions between sections
Theory, History, and Culture Assessment
Review folk music purposes, instruments, scales, etc
Finale rotation continues
Week 6:


Compositions due. In class performance begins
Continue rehearsing Korean Folk Song as a whole
Week 7:


Performance Assessments begin
Polish technique, focus on intonation and phrasing
Week 8:




Performance Assessments conclude
Composition performances conclude
Continue rehearsing and polishing
Listen to ensemble performance (themselves and others) of Korean Folk Song Medley
o Students evaluate what they hear and how it differs from other ensembles
Week 9:

Students are ready to perform and have demonstrated an understanding through
performance and written assessment objectives 1 through 10.
Formal Assessment I: Performance, 15pts
To be selected from; m. 13-20, m. 30-37, m. 64-72

(Bb Clarinet): Student will perform an excerpt from one of three given in the Student
Unit Packet. They will then be scored on their tone, technique, articulation, intonation,
and musicality based on the following rubric:
Assessment I (Bb Clarinet): Korean Folk Medley m.
Tone
Technique Articulation Intonation Musicality
1pts
Airy, fuzzy
sound. Not
supported.
2 pts
Sound is
supported in
most
instances.
Some work
still needed
Most notes
missed.
Tonguing and
fingerings do
not align.
Some mistakes
in pitch and/or
rhythm, but
melody still
recognizable
3 pts
Full and
supported
sound. Notes
speak clearly
nearly 100% of
the time.
Tonguings line
up with
fingerings
accurately. No
notes or
rhythms
missed.
Muddled or
absent. Correct
markings not
observed at all.
No grasping of
a tonal center.
Pitches are not
centered.
Correct
articulations
observed some
of the time.
Articulations are
somewhat
unclear but
present.
Clear
articulations
with observance
of correct
markings.
Some pitches
off center/out
of tune.
Pitches are
centered and
student has an
understanding
of intervals.
No phrasing
present. Total
disregard for
musical
markings.
Somewhat
follows the
natural
phrasing of the
piece and
follows some
music
markings
Follows the
phrases
appropriately
with
expressions
___/15 Total Score
Formal Assessment II: Theory, History, and Culture
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Notate your Eb Concert Scale:
Notate your c Minor Concert Scale:
What is the significance of the folk song “Arirang” in Korean culture?
What are some folk songs we are familiar with here in the United States?
What instruments are common in Korean folk music?
What purpose does folk music hold for various cultures?
Answer Key:
1. Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-D-Eb
2. C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C
3. “Arirang” is the unofficial national folk song/anthem of Korean. The word has no
direct translation.
4. Answers will vary. Shenendoah, Yanky Doodle, Wayfaring Stranger, My Country
Tis of Thee, etc
5. Answers will vary, but include; changgo, samulnori, puk, kayagum, komun’go,
etc.
6. Folk music is performed by both amateurs and professionals and various cultures
have their own folk music for religious, ceremonial, and festive purposes in
addition to simply providing entertainment.
Formal Assessment III: Unit Composition Assignment



Based upon a harmonic progression found in Korean Folk Song Medley, students will
write their own melodic line in 6/8 time for their particular instrument, correctly
transposed. Compositions will be performed by full sections in class during the 7th week
of the unit.
Harmonic progression to be used: