Podcast 2
Getting with the Groove
What Students Will Do:
- Explore rhythm and beat through a discussion of grooves in popular music
- Listen to rhythm patterns created by vocal and instrumental compositions
- Explore concepts of unity, repetition, and contrast as they apply to melodic rhythm
National Music Education Standards Addressed:
- Standard 6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music
- Standard 7: Evaluating music and music performances
Time/Materials Required:
- 15-20 minutes
- Digital media player or computer access to the Internet
Activity Summary:
What is a "groove"? Defined as a "settled routine" of interrelated rhythmic ideas, a groove focuses our attention on patterns in musical compositions. In this activity, students will listen to several compositions that feature strong melodic, percussive, and vocal rhythms and be asked to identify patterns that they hear. Students will also explore how grooves are arranged, using concepts such as repetition, balance, and contrast to emphasize rhythmic patterns.
Download Audio Activity and Worksheet:
Click on the link below to download and listen to this activity. Print the student worksheet and distribute to students; instruct them to input their answers while listening to the activity.
Click here to download this podcast
Click here to download Student Worksheet
Click here to download Teacher Worksheet (Student Worksheet with answers)
Vocabulary:
beat: a steady recurring pulse
breakdown section: a section of a song in which all but a limited number instruments stop playing for a brief interval
groove: a combination of repetitive rhythmic ideas that create a steady beat.
rap: an energetic and talky form of accompanied singing that often highlights the harsh realities of urban America.
rhythm: combinations of long and short sounds that convey a sense of movement.
Additional Teaching Strategies
Use the activity vocabulary and Web link resources as a discussion motivator, or the extension activity as an engaging, in-class project.
Extension Activity:
Have students share with the class music that features interesting grooves. Encourage a discussion of how cultural trends affect the characteristics of grooves used in pop music. The 1980s and 1990s marked a time of keen interest in incorporating grooves using stylistic elements from other cultures (particularly Africa and South America) into Western music. What specific political events and subtle cultural shifts may have inspired this trend?
Web Link Resources:
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