Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 3
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Music
Curriculum Theme: Music Theory
Previous Lesson: Transcription: Familiar Melodies into Solfa Notation.
Topic: Intervals.
Subject Matter: Tones and Semitones, Major Intervals, Minor Intervals, Major Third Interval, Perfect Fifth Interval, Differences between Major and Minor Intervals.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define tones and semitones in music.
Identify major and minor intervals.
Differentiate between major and minor intervals.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of intervals in understanding musical harmony.
Show interest in identifying different types of intervals.

Psychomotor Domain:

Write the interval of a major third on a staff.
Write the interval of a perfect fifth on a staff.
Demonstrate major and minor intervals on a keyboard chart.

Collaborate with peers to identify various intervals.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Music.
State Unified Scheme of Work for Senior Secondary Music.
Music for Senior Secondary Schools Book 1.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

A keyboard chart.
Interval tables.
Note cards showing different intervals.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the fundamental building blocks of melodies and harmonies in music. Understanding intervals enables pupils to better comprehend how different notes relate to each other, which is important for both playing and composing music.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have prior knowledge of basic music notation, including notes on the staff, clefs, and scales.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Intervals

Tones and Semitones

A tone (or whole step) is the distance between two notes that are two semitones apart. A semitone (or half step) is the smallest interval in Western music, typically the distance between a note and the very next note on a keyboard, whether black or white.

Examples of semitones include:

C to C#
E to F
B to C

Examples of tones include:

C to D
E to F#
A to B

Major and Minor Intervals

An interval is the distance between two notes. Intervals can be classified as major, minor, perfect, augmented, or diminished. Major and minor primarily apply to seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths.

Major intervals are generally “larger” than their minor counterparts by one semitone.

Major Third Interval

A major third is an interval spanning four semitones. It is a common and consonant interval, often associated with a “bright” or “happy” sound.

Examples of major third intervals are:

C to E
F to A
G to B

Perfect Fifth Interval

A perfect fifth is an interval spanning seven semitones. It is a very stable and consonant interval, considered one of the most fundamental in harmony.

Examples of perfect fifth intervals are:

C to G
D to A
E to B

Differences between Major and Minor Intervals

The main difference between major and minor intervals lies in their size, specifically by one semitone. Minor intervals are one semitone smaller than their corresponding major intervals.

For example:

A major third (C to E) spans 4 semitones, while a minor third (C to Eb) spans 3 semitones.
A major second (C to D) spans 2 semitones, while a minor second (C to Db) spans 1 semitone.

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 recall what an interval is in music. The teacher then introduces the topic “Intervals” and states the lesson objectives.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils recall prior knowledge and are introduced to the lesson’s focus.

Step 2: Explanation of Tones and Semitones

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what tones and semitones are using a keyboard chart to demonstrate. The teacher shows examples of semitones (e.g., C-C#, E-F) and tones (e.g., C-D, F-G) on the keyboard.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration on the keyboard chart, listen to explanations, and identify tones and semitones as instructed.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the concepts of tones and semitones as basic units of musical distance.

Step 3: Introduction to Major and Minor Intervals

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the concept of major and minor intervals, explaining that these terms describe the quality of certain intervals (seconds, thirds, sixths, sevenths). The teacher emphasizes that minor intervals are a semitone smaller than major intervals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils begin to distinguish between major and minor qualities of intervals.

Step 4: Focusing on Major Third Interval

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains and demonstrates how to identify and write a major third interval, showing examples like C-E on the staff and keyboard. The teacher asks pupils to identify other major third intervals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe, identify, and practice writing major third intervals as guided by the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to identify and write major third intervals.

Step 5: Focusing on Perfect Fifth Interval

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains and demonstrates how to identify and write a perfect fifth interval, showing examples like C-G on the staff and keyboard. The teacher asks pupils to identify other perfect fifth intervals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe, identify, and practice writing perfect fifth intervals.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to identify and write perfect fifth intervals.

Step 6: Discussing Differences between Major and Minor Intervals

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Comparison
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher facilitates a discussion on the differences between major and minor intervals, using examples from the board summary. The teacher clarifies that the difference is usually one semitone.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the discussion, comparing major and minor intervals and stating their differences.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding of the distinct qualities of major and minor 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:

Define a semitone and a tone.
What is the main difference between a major interval and a minor interval?
Write an example of a major third interval on the staff.
Write an example of a perfect fifth interval on the staff.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating the definitions of tones, semitones, and the characteristics of major and minor intervals, including major third and perfect fifth. The teacher assigns homework for pupils to practice identifying and writing various intervals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the assigned homework.
Learning Point: Pupils review the lesson and prepare for further practice.

Lesson Keywords

Interval – The distance between two notes.
Semitone – The smallest interval in Western music.
Tone – An interval equal to two semitones.
Major Interval – A larger version of an interval, usually one semitone larger than its minor counterpart.
Minor Interval – A smaller version of an interval, usually one semitone smaller than its major counterpart.
Major Third – An interval spanning four semitones.
Perfect Fifth – An interval spanning seven semitones.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to identify augmented and diminished intervals. For pupils needing more support, the teacher can provide additional one-on-one guidance, simplified interval charts, and more practice with basic interval identification using concrete examples on the keyboard.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that the keyboard chart is visible to all pupils during demonstrations. Encourage pupils to sing the intervals to develop their aural recognition. Provide ample opportunities for both individual and group practice in identifying and writing intervals.