Western Classical Music ...Reimagined! SOW

In an attempt to make Western Classical Music relevant for my Year 9 students, I have developed a 12-lesson SOW where they will learn about the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods ALONGSIDE an ongoing composition task where they will take a pop song and change it into a Baroque chamber ensemble (think Bridgerton, without the copyright)!

Included:

• Teaching on the three musical periods: composers, listening, musical devices and forms
• YouTube link examples
• Composition help including screenshot demos
• Student workbook
• Quick quizzes as lesson starters
• 7x pop/rock songs for students to arrange
• Success criteria

Lesson content:

1. Introduction to Western Classical Music
2. Introduction to Baroque inc. composers and listening
3. Baroque Musical Devices inc. listening
4. Baroque Musical Forms inc. example of ritornello
5. Rhythm, Tempo & Metre lesson (intertwining music theory)
6. Introduction to Classical inc. composers and listening
7. Classical Musical Devices inc. listening
8. Classical Musical Forms
9. Harmony & Tonality lesson (intertwining music theory)
10. Introduction to Romantic inc. composers and listening
11. Romantic Musical Devices inc. listening
12. Romantic Musical Forms inc. example of theme & variation

Composition/Arrangement content:

• Basic chords taken from chosen song
• Melody taken from chosen song
• Put across string quartet (and harpsichord)
• Make sure there is contrast between the sections
• Add a bassline (basso continuo)
• Add a countermelody in the 2nd verse and 2nd chorus
• Add ornamentation
• Add a sequence or repeated motif
• Develop a virtuoso melodic section where the bridge should be
• Adding contrasting textures
• Adding articulation and dynamics