Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 3
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Music
Curriculum Theme: Elements of Music
Previous Lesson: Dominant 7th Chord: Meaning, Handling Discord and V7 Harmony.
Topic: Interval (harmonic)
Subject Matter: Meaning of harmonic interval (two notes sounded together), major intervals (2nd, 3rd, 6th), perfect intervals (unison, 4th, 5th, octave), ear training for harmonic intervals (singing upper notes when lower notes are played).

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define a harmonic interval.
Identify different types of harmonic intervals, including major and perfect intervals.
Distinguish between major and perfect harmonic intervals when heard.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of ear training in music.
Develop a keen sense of listening for musical intervals.

Psychomotor Domain:

Sing the upper notes of given harmonic intervals accurately when the lower notes are played.
Demonstrate the ability to recognize various harmonic intervals by sound.

Participate actively in group ear training exercises.
Collaborate with peers in identifying and singing harmonic intervals.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
New System Music for Senior Secondary Schools, Book 2
https://www.musicnotes.com/blog/what-are-intervals-in-music/
https://www.earmaster.com/music-theory-online/en/harmonic-intervals.html

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Keyboard
Interval chart
Tuning fork
Audio samples of harmonic intervals

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how notes combine to create different musical sounds. It enables them to develop important listening skills and practical musicianship, which are essential for playing instruments, singing, and composing music.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior knowledge of basic music notes, scales, and melodic intervals.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Harmonic Intervals

Meaning of Harmonic Interval

A harmonic interval occurs when two notes are sounded simultaneously (at the same time). This creates a chord-like sound, as opposed to melodic intervals where notes are played one after the other.

Types of Harmonic Intervals

Harmonic intervals are generally classified into different qualities, such as major, minor, perfect, augmented, and diminished. For this lesson, we will focus on major and perfect intervals.

Major Intervals

Major intervals are specific types of intervals that create a bright and resolved sound when heard harmonically. They are often associated with major scales.

The following are common major harmonic intervals:

Major 2nd
Major 3rd
Major 6th

Perfect Intervals

Perfect intervals are considered stable and consonant in harmony, creating a very pleasing and settled sound. They are unique because they do not have major or minor variations, only perfect, augmented, or diminished.

The following are common perfect harmonic intervals:

Perfect Unison (two identical notes sounded together)
Perfect 4th
Perfect 5th
Perfect Octave (two notes an octave apart sounded together)

Ear Training for Harmonic Intervals

Ear training for harmonic intervals helps musicians develop the ability to identify and reproduce intervals by ear. This involves listening to two notes played together and recognizing the specific interval.

Steps for ear training:

The teacher plays the lower note of an interval.
The teacher then plays both notes of the harmonic interval.
Pupils listen carefully and try to identify the interval.
Pupils practice singing the upper note of the interval after hearing the lower note and then the full interval.

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, reviews the previous lesson on melodic intervals, and introduces the concept of harmonic intervals by asking pupils how two notes can be played together.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about melodic intervals and listen attentively to the introduction of harmonic intervals.
Learning Point: Pupils recall previous knowledge and are prepared for the new topic.

Step 2: Explanation of Harmonic Interval

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines harmonic interval as two notes sounded at the same time and demonstrates various harmonic intervals on the keyboard, contrasting them with melodic intervals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation and examples, observing the difference between melodic and harmonic intervals.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning of a harmonic interval.

Step 3: Major Intervals

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what major intervals are and demonstrates major 2nd, 3rd, and 6th harmonically on the keyboard, allowing pupils to hear their distinct qualities.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation and examples of major harmonic intervals and try to recognize their sound.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and recognize major harmonic intervals.

Step 4: Perfect Intervals

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what perfect intervals are and demonstrates perfect unison, 4th, 5th, and octave harmonically on the keyboard, highlighting their stable sound.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation and examples of perfect harmonic intervals and note their characteristic sound.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and recognize perfect harmonic intervals.

Step 5: Differentiating Major and Perfect Intervals

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays various major and perfect harmonic intervals randomly and guides pupils to differentiate between them by asking questions about their sound quality.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and attempt to distinguish between major and perfect intervals based on their sound.
Learning Point: Pupils develop critical listening skills to differentiate interval types.

Step 6: Ear Training Practice

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Application/Drill
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher plays the lower note of an interval, then the full harmonic interval, and guides pupils to sing the upper note. This is repeated for various major and perfect intervals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice singing the upper notes of harmonic intervals after hearing them.
Learning Point: Pupils improve their ear for identifying and reproducing harmonic intervals.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is a harmonic interval?
Mention three examples of major harmonic intervals.
List four examples of perfect harmonic intervals.
Describe how ear training for harmonic intervals is done.

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, emphasizing the importance of recognizing harmonic intervals. The teacher assigns homework for pupils to practice identifying intervals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further practice.

Lesson Keywords

Harmonic Interval – Two notes sounded at the same time.
Major Interval – A type of interval (e.g., 2nd, 3rd, 6th) with a bright quality when sounded harmonically.
Perfect Interval – A stable, consonant interval (e.g., unison, 4th, 5th, octave) when sounded harmonically.
Unison – Two identical notes played together.
Octave – Two notes an octave apart played together.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, the teacher can introduce more complex harmonic intervals or challenge them to identify intervals without prior demonstration. For pupils who need more support, the teacher will provide additional, simpler examples and more guided practice with the keyboard, focusing on one interval type at a time.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure the keyboard is in good working condition. Use clear and distinct demonstrations for each interval. Encourage active listening and participation from all pupils during ear training exercises. Provide positive feedback to build confidence in their listening and singing abilities.