Course overview - Study Period 5 and 6 - Has slavery changed music forever? (Blues and Rock 'n' Roll)
Originating in the Southern United States of America in the early twentieth century, Blues music is routinely heard in a variety of contexts. It has been highly influential in shaping the Jazz music of the mid-twentieth century onwards, and of popular music as we know it today.
This unit will trace the genre from its origins as the music of black plantation slaves, exploring the musical characteristics of the Blues through a highly practical approach. Once the foundation of blues music has been established we will explore how this evolved into rock 'n' roll.
Throughout the unit, learners will work towards the composition of their own rock 'n' roll song, with each lesson building on the last, with the introduction of new skills, including ways to develop an instrumental part, and improvise using the blues scale.
Key Concept:
Relationships, Time, Influence and Evolution
Assessment Points:
A formative and summative practical performance throughout the term.
A formative and summative assessment of vocabulary and knowledge.
Guidance:
Learners will receive guidance in a variety of ways. These include marked assessments, reports, feedback in books, 1:1 interaction, Google Classroom.
Key Vocabulary:
12 bar blues
7th chords
AAB structure
Bessie Smith
blue notes
blues scale
Call and response
Chant
chord progression
chorus
complex chords
count in
Deep South
delta blues
dynamics
ending/coda
Field holler
four beats in a bar
groove
ground bass
harmony
I IV V
improvised
Instrumental
instrumentation
introduction
jazz
lyrics
melody
pitch
plantations
rehearsal
rhythm
rhythm and blues
riff/ostinato
Robert Johnson
rock and roll
sections
slave
solo
spirituals
structure
strumming pattern
swing rhythm
tempo
texture
the Blues
vamp
verse
W.C. Handy
walking bass
work song