Summer is a great time to think outside of the box as you lesson plan! Flexibility with your lesson plans in the summer is also key, since students are often taking more sporadic lessons due to summer vacations, camps, sports, and other activities.
So, over the next several weeks, I will be sharing a series of fun lesson plans that will be perfect for busy students (and teachers) this summer! Each lesson plan focuses on one skill and includes links to FREE worksheets and activities that can be completed in the space of a 30 minute lesson.
Lesson Plan #1 is a focus on chords! Keep reading to see the summer fun....
So, over the next several weeks, I will be sharing a series of fun lesson plans that will be perfect for busy students (and teachers) this summer! Each lesson plan focuses on one skill and includes links to FREE worksheets and activities that can be completed in the space of a 30 minute lesson.
Lesson Plan #1 is a focus on chords! Keep reading to see the summer fun....
Under Construction: A 30-Minute Chord Building Lesson Plan
Ready to get hands-on with chords? Here is your step-by-step lesson plan:
1. Introduce students to the half step formulas used to build major and minor chords as shown on the third worksheet below. Have students practice building a variety of major and minor chords on the piano keyboard using puzzle erasers, pebbles, or small wrapped candies.
2. Complete the 3 worksheets below, with students building chords on the piano keys and on the staff. (Click on the images to download your free copies.)
Ready to get hands-on with chords? Here is your step-by-step lesson plan:
1. Introduce students to the half step formulas used to build major and minor chords as shown on the third worksheet below. Have students practice building a variety of major and minor chords on the piano keyboard using puzzle erasers, pebbles, or small wrapped candies.
2. Complete the 3 worksheets below, with students building chords on the piano keys and on the staff. (Click on the images to download your free copies.)
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3. Have students put their chord building skills to the test by playing one (or both) of the lead sheets below. (Click on the images to download your free copies.)
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Need more chord building activities for a longer lesson? Try one of these optional activities:
What do you think? What are your favorite chord building activities? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments!
- Practice identifying even more major and minor chords on the staff and by ear. MusicTheory.net has a free staff exercise HERE and listening exercise HERE that students can use in lessons and at home. (Click on the settings button in the top right corner of the screen to customize each exercise so it includes only major and minor chords.)
- Introduce the 4 groups of major chords using this handy chart found HERE.
- Have your student practice building chords in first and second inversion. Check out this teaching tip video for an easy way to help your students keep their inversions straight!
- Introduce the concept of augmented and diminished chords and have your students add these chords to the worksheets they completed above.
What do you think? What are your favorite chord building activities? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments!
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