Aidan Farley

Professor D. Stringham
MUS 150
17 November 2015
Lesson Plan Project

Objective:
Students will listen, analyze, and improvise solos over a 12 bar blues chord progression
Students will utilize SmartMusic and be able to record themselves soloing so that both
the student and the educator can critique/analyze what they played and see how they can
further their knowledge

Procedures/Activities:
Educator will provide student with sheet music for a 12 bar blues (I I/IV I I IV IV I I V
IV I I/V) in both paper and on SmartMusic
Educator will teach students a C blues scale, and demonstrate how to play it with an mp3
recording of C Jam Blues on SmartMusic.
Educator will help students set up SmartMusic accounts for students, and provide each
with a pair of headphones and microphone (if computer doesnt come with a built-in
one).
Students will listen to the chord progression on the first time through and then solo on the
second time through. Students will be recording themselves.

 After playing through and recording, both the educator and student will listen to what
was played and receive feedback from educator on how to further the complexity of their
solo, whether it be style, tempo, notes, etc.

Assessment:
Students will play and record themselves soloing over a 12 bar blues progression
Both student and educator will listen to recording and jot down notes on what they heard
was strong and what parts could be improved.
Educator will verbally explain to the student what parts they thought were strong along
with showing them how improve the overall interest and complexity of their solos.
This will not be graded, as it is meant to be a lesson and not an assignment

Assignment:
Student will submit two recording on SmartMusic of themselves soloing over a 12 bar
blues progression, with the first progression in the same key as the one in class (C major)
and the second in the key of F major.
o Educator will provide student with sheet music in key of F major
Students will have three tries on each key but should strive for two tries.
Students will be expected to incorporate feedback received during class from educator in
their solos
Educator will be grading students on style, rhythmic variety, note accuracy, and whether
or not they changed/added aspects of their solo from feedback given to them by the
educator.

Help:
If student need assistance, there are a number of ways that can help them understand
and/or clarify whatever they need help with
o If a student is having issues with SmartMusic, students can either:
Look online at http://www.smartmusic.com/support/learningcenter/, which
can provide them with answers to questions and provide them with
tutorials as well
Email the educator
Talk with other classmates
o If a student is having trouble in regards to soloing, they can:
Look up examples of 12 bar blues on SmartMusic or Youtube
Email the educator
Due Date:
Students will submit assignment within two days of it being assigned. Work will be
accepted for up to another two days, but the grade of the assignment will drop one letter
grade for each day overdue.

Rubric:
10-5
Style

Rhythmic Variety

5-0

Student

Student

Student doesnt

demonstrates an

demonstrates

understand

advanced/good

somewhat of an

techniques,

understanding of

understanding of

doesnt make an

traditional jazz

jazz improvisation

attempt at

improvisation

techniques, but

technique, or does

techniques

needs more

not complete

practice

assignment

Student plays an

Student plays

Student does not

exceptional/decent

mostly half notes

make an attempt

amount of different

and quarter notes,

at changing

rhythms throughout

doesnt try to add

rhythms, or does

and does not stay

much variance

not complete

stagnant
Note Accuracy

Points Earned

assignment

Student stays in key

Students stay in

Student does not

and scale for almost

key and scale for

stay in key

all of solo, 0-3

the most part, but

whatsoever, or

missed notes

have a number of

does not turn in

missed notes

assignment

Incorporation of

Student

Student

Student does not

Feedback

demonstrates an

demonstrates a

use feedback

understanding of

somewhat

whatsoever into

feedback and

understanding of

solo, or does not

implements it

feedback and

turn in

implements it

assignment
Total Point: /40