Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS 2)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 4
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Music
Curriculum Theme: African Musical Heritage
Previous Lesson: Harmony: Meaning and Continued Harmonization Practice.
Topic: African Music (Colonial and post Colonial) Forms of music.
Subject Matter: Meaning of African music forms (ways music is structured and performed), forms of music, musical features of Nigerian vocal music (call and response, language, rhythm), musical features of Nigerian instrumental music (drumming patterns, ostinato, ensemble roles)

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define African music forms.
List various forms of African music.
Identify at least three musical features of Nigerian vocal music.
Identify at least three musical features of Nigerian instrumental music.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the richness and diversity of African musical heritage.
Value the cultural significance of different African music forms.

Psychomotor Domain:

Discuss with examples how African music is organized.
Present examples of musical features from known Nigerian songs and performances.

Collaborate effectively during group discussions on musical features.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Nigerian Senior Secondary School Music Textbook 2
https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1xp3k9k.6
https://www.britannica.com/art/African-music

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Audio examples of various African music forms.
Pictures or diagrams of traditional Nigerian musical instruments.
Music textbooks.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how African music is structured and performed, providing insight into its historical development and cultural significance. It enables pupils to recognize and appreciate the unique characteristics of Nigerian vocal and instrumental music, connecting them to their cultural heritage.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have some basic knowledge of music elements and may have listened to various forms of Nigerian and African music.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

African Music (Colonial and Post-Colonial)

Meaning of African Music Forms

African music forms refer to the various ways music is structured, organized, and performed within African societies. These forms reflect the cultural values, historical experiences, and social functions of the music, often adapting through colonial and post-colonial periods.

Forms of African Music

African music encompasses a wide range of forms, often categorized by their function, context, or style. These include:

Traditional/Folk Music: Music passed down through generations, often linked to specific ethnic groups, rituals, ceremonies, and daily activities.
Religious Music: Music used in spiritual worship, including Christian hymns, Islamic chants, and traditional spiritual songs.
Work Songs: Music performed during tasks like farming, fishing, or crafting, to coordinate effort and lighten the burden.
Ceremonial Music: Music for rites of passage, festivals, weddings, funerals, and other important community events.
Art Music: Contemporary classical compositions by African composers, often blending traditional elements with Western classical structures.
Popular Music: Modern genres like Afrobeat, Jùjú, Highlife, Fuji, and Gospel, which have evolved through colonial influences and globalization.

Musical Features of Nigerian Vocal Music

Nigerian vocal music is characterized by several distinct features:

Call and Response: A common pattern where a lead singer (caller) sings a phrase, and a chorus (responders) answers, often overlapping or echoing.
Language and Text: Vocal music is deeply tied to local languages, proverbs, storytelling, and social commentary, conveying meaning and cultural narratives.
Rhythm: Complex and often polyrhythmic vocal lines, integrated with instrumental rhythms, creating a vibrant and energetic feel.
Improvisation: Singers often improvise on melodic lines and texts, especially in praise singing or storytelling.
Melodic Contour: Melodies often follow speech tones and can be highly embellished.

Musical Features of Nigerian Instrumental Music

Nigerian instrumental music also exhibits specific features:

Drumming Patterns (Polyrhythm): Multiple rhythmic patterns played simultaneously by different drums and percussion instruments, creating a dense and layered texture.
Ostinato: Short, repeated melodic or rhythmic patterns that form the foundation upon which other musical elements are built.
Ensemble Roles: Instruments in an ensemble often have specific roles, such as lead drums, accompanying instruments, and rhythm keepers, creating a hierarchical structure.
Improvisation: Instrumentalists, especially lead drummers or melodic instrument players, often improvise within established rhythmic and melodic frameworks.
Talking Drums: The use of instruments like the dùndún (talking drum) to mimic speech patterns, conveying messages and proverbs.
Timbre and Texture: A wide range of timbres from various instruments (drums, xylophones, flutes, string instruments) contributing to rich and diverse textures.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to name some types of music they listen to in Nigeria. The teacher then introduces the topic: African Music (Colonial and Post-Colonial) Forms of Music.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by naming different types of music and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the topic and connect it to their prior knowledge of music.

Step 2: Explanation of African Music Forms

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Lecture
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of African music forms, emphasizing how music is structured and performed. The teacher then lists and explains various forms of African music, giving examples like traditional, religious, and popular music.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the concept and different categories of African music forms.

Step 3: Discussion on Musical Features of Nigerian Vocal Music

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides a discussion on the musical features of Nigerian vocal music. The teacher specifically highlights call and response, the use of language, and rhythmic complexities, using audio examples where possible.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate, list features, and relate them to known Nigerian songs.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and understand key characteristics of Nigerian vocal music.

Step 4: Discussion on Musical Features of Nigerian Instrumental Music

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the musical features of Nigerian instrumental music. The teacher focuses on drumming patterns (polyrhythm), ostinato, and the roles of instruments in an ensemble, using pictures of instruments or audio examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute by listing features and identifying them in instrumental pieces or pictures.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and understand key characteristics of Nigerian instrumental music.

Step 5: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define “African music forms.”
Mention three forms of African music.
List three musical features of Nigerian vocal music.
State three musical features of Nigerian instrumental music.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of understanding African music forms and their unique features. The teacher assigns homework, asking pupils to research a specific Nigerian music form and its features.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and are encouraged to explore the topic further.

Lesson Keywords

African Music Forms – The structured ways music is created and performed in Africa.
Colonial Music – Music influenced by European presence and culture during colonial rule.
Post-Colonial Music – Music developed after independence, often blending traditional and modern influences.
Call and Response – A musical pattern where a lead part is answered by a group.
Polyrhythm – The simultaneous use of two or more contrasting rhythms.
Ostinato – A short, continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm.
Ensemble Roles – The specific functions of different instruments or voices within a musical group.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research specific examples of music forms and features from different Nigerian ethnic groups. For pupils needing more support, the teacher will provide simplified definitions and focus on identifying one or two key features for each category, using more direct examples.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to bring examples of Nigerian music from home to share and discuss. Utilize online resources for audio and visual examples to enhance understanding. Emphasize the cultural relevance and evolution of African music through different historical periods.