Swing and Blues Music 6th – 8th grade
Study guide
Purpose: To study the form, instrumentation and unique characteristics of swing and blues music. Notice the intrinsic value swing and blues has
to our past and present society, for example the use in dance halls during the depression. Analyze swing recordings and blues recordings from
the BBC Orchestra, Buddy Guy, B.B. King and others.
Objective: Actively listen to swing and blues music ANALYTICALLY through a variety of swing and blues examples. Identify swing and blues terms
and big band instrumentation through listening and discussion. Perform a C major twelve bar blues.
Vocabulary terms:
6th grade terms
1. Swing music
2. Moderato
3. Solo
4. Pitch bend
5. Melody
6. Acoustic guitar
7. Accompaniment
8. Electric guitar
9. Allegro
10. Forte
11. Piano
12. Big band
Additional 7th and 8th grade vocabulary terms
major third
perfect fifth
chord
seventh chord
measure (bar)
twelve bar blues
tempo
Instrumentation For Big Bands
Woodwind Section – Saxophone and Clarinets
Saxophone is part of the woodwind family of instruments.
What part of the saxophone allows it to be called a woodwind?
How does a saxophone sound to you? Be descriptive. Describe the tone quality.
How does a clarinet sound in this selection? Be descriptive. Describe the tone quality.
Brass Section – Trumpets and Trombones
Describe a typical brass section sound in a big band?
How does the trumpet sound to you in this piece? Be descriptive. Describe the tone quality.
How does the trombone sound to you In this piece? Be descriptive. Describe the tone quality.
Rhythm Section – Drum set, piano, and upright bass.
What is the purpose of the drum set in a big band? Describe the drum set sound, be descriptive.
What family of instruments is the upright bass?
What family of instruments is the piano?
7th and 8th grade
NOTATING MUSIC – Key of C Major
Choose either a major third, perfect fifth, Major chord, minor chord, dominant seventh
1. Name this interval.
2. What type of chord is this?
3. Name this interval.
4. What type of chord is this?
5. What type of jazz chord is this?
Practice Performance Test
C major blues Key
1 = measure number 4/4 or 6/8 = time signature
C Major chord = C , E , and G F Major chord = F, A , and C G Major chord = G, B , and D
Practice and Perform a 12 bar blues pattern. *Remember you need to play the note C with E or G. For a challenge
you can play all three notes.
C Major Blues in 4/4 or 6/8. Create a different rhythm per chord. It NEEDS to be swung. Ex: dotted eighth and
sixteenth or a quarter note and an eighth.
1
C chord
7
C chord
2
C chord
8
C chord
3
C chord
4
C chord
5
F chord
9
G chord
10
F chord
11
C chord
6
F chord
12
G chord
A minor Blues
A Minor chord = A, C natural, and E D major chord = D, F sharp, and A
E major chord = E , G sharp and B natural
A Minor Blues in 4/4 Play a swing rhythm. Ex: dotted eighth and sixteenth note in 4/4 or quarter note and an eighth in 6/8.
1
Am chord
2
Am chord
3
Am chord
7
Am chord
8
Am chord
9
E chord
4
Am chord
10
D chord
5
D chord
11
Am chord
6
D chord
12
Am chord
PIANO KEYS
Partner 1
Create a one measure to use as a melody that will
repeat over and over.
Partner 2
Play a bass pattern that repeats over and over.
Your performance AND written test will include these terms:
Key Signature (Pitches) C major and A minor pentatonic scales for 6th grade AS WELL AS F major and D
minor for 7th and 8th grade.
Time Signature: 4/4 and 6/8 for 6th grade and 12/8 for 7th- 8th grade.
Form: For grades 6th – 8th, a duet which includes two parts. Partner one plays the bass part and Partner two
plays the melody part, which will include notes from either the major or minor pentatonic scale.
Dynamics: piano (soft), mezzo piano (medium soft), mezzo forte (medium loud), and forte (loud) use a
crescendo and decrescendo.
Tempos: Allegro, Moderato, and Largo
Rhythm will include: eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and triplets AS WELL AS whole, half, and quarter rests.
Performance Grading Rubric
Rhythm
4- Can perform all of the music with accurate rhythms with a steady beat.
3- Can perform most of the music with accurate rhythms with a steady beat.
2- Can perform half of the music with accurate rhythms with a steady beat half of the time.
1-Can perform one quarter of the music with accurate rhythms struggles to keep a beat.
Dynamics
4- Can perform all of the indicated dynamics at the right time.
3- Can perform most of the indicated dynamics at the right time.
2- Can perform some of the indicated dynamics at the right time.
1-Can perform very little of the indicated dynamics at the right time.
Tempo
4- The student can play all of the three tempos accurately with a steady beat.
3 - The student can play two out of the three accurately with a steady beat.
2- The student can play one out of the three accurately with a steady beat.
1-The student struggles to perform any tempo accurately with a steady beat.
*6th graders, with your assigned partner, practice making four measures in 4/4, 6/8 and 7th- 8th graders practice
using 4/4, 6/8, and 12/8 at different tempos and dynamics.
*Remember penta is a prefix that means five. Tonic refers to tone or sound. Therefore a pentatonic scale uses
five sounds or pitches.
*Practice playing major pentatonic scales and minor pentatonic scales. Can you hear the difference? There
will be a small listening section.
*Major and minor scales use eight notes.
*Practice playing a C major scale and A minor scale along with F major scale and D minor scale. Can you hear
the difference between major and minor?