3rd+Grade+Staccato-Legato+using+Jazz+tunes

I came up with the lesson because I needed to highlight the difference between staccato and legato and introduce jazz music at the same time. I really love the song "What a Difference a Day Makes," and wanted to incorporate this song somehow. I found a staccato jazz example, and the lesson started forming.

I had great success teaching this lesson because the kids are always up and moving or changing gears. There are a lot of elements that go into the lesson, making it hard for them to do much else. I think it is important to "do" concepts, not just learn them. Therefore, I wanted students to describe staccato and legato, listen to examples, put the concept into their bodies, and lastly perform what they learned.

Because of the movement aspect, setting clear boundaries is key to the success of the lesson. Make sure students know your expectations of how they can act when moving around the room.

Edit by Tyler Gruttemeyer

Part 1

1. I will explain that I am going to say a sentence in two different styles and the class will need to identify the differences. - Pick a mundane sentence to say once staccato and once legato 2. Walk over to the marker board and ask for volunteers to __compare__ the two sentences. Make two columns to organize the students' answers 3. Introduce the words Staccato & Legato. Ask if any students know what the words mean. (some will because of piano lessons, strings, etc.) Explain that musicians use these fancy italian words to explain things. Say words in accent (they love that) 4.) Tell the students that you are going to say the staccato sentence, and ask them to speak it with myself, then tell them to say the legato sentence with myself. 5. Now that the students know what the words mean, ask which sentence was staccato and which was legato.

Part 2 1. Ask the students to stand, and safely dance around the move in response to the music being played.

2. Play a snippit of "What a Difference a Day Makes" by Dinah Washington 3. Ask the students to sit, and ask what style they felt the song was in and why 4. Play Ja-Da (This song can be found in Silver Burnett's Making Music Series), and follow the same plan as what a difference a day makes

Part 3 1. Explain that both of these tunes were in the genre of jazz music. 2. Explain that one genre of music can explore different styles like staccato & legato 3. Briefly introduce jazz history. Ask students if they know anything about jazz.

Part 4 1. Sing Ja -Da - Explain the Scat syllbles in the music and how they relate to instrumental music 2. Use call and response method 3. Have students sing the "A" section staccato and the "B" section legato 4. Sing a cappella first and with the recorded track second 4. Have students snap on the off beats during the musical interlude

Review 1. Ask volunteers to sum up the word staccato in their own words. 2. Ask volunteers to sum up the word legato in their own words. 3. Ask volunteers to say one thing they learned about Jazz Music today.