Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 1
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Music
Curriculum Theme: Music
Previous Lesson: .
Topic: Notation Solfa.
Subject Matter: names of scale degrees in tonic solfa, unmarked octave, octave below, octave above, writing melody using two octave ranges.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Identify and name the seven scale degrees in tonic solfa.
Distinguish between the unmarked octave, octave below, and octave above in tonic solfa notation.
Recall the notation symbols used for different octaves.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of correct solfa notation for clear musical communication.
Show interest in learning to write simple melodies using tonic solfa.

Psychomotor Domain:

Correctly write the tonic solfa notation for notes in the unmarked octave, octave below, and octave above.
Compose a simple solfa melody using notes from any two octave ranges.

Collaborate with classmates to identify and correct errors in solfa notation.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Music (Senior Secondary Education)
State Unified Scheme of Work for Music SSS 1
Any approved Music Textbook for Senior Secondary Schools 1

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Solfa charts
Octave range posters
Sample solfa melodies

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how to read and write music using tonic solfa notation. Knowing how to use different octaves in solfa is important for creating and understanding melodies with varying pitches, which is a basic skill for musicians.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have basic knowledge of music notes and the primary solfa syllables (doh, re, mi, fah, soh, lah, ti).

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Notation Solfa

Names of Scale Degrees in Tonic Solfa

Tonic solfa uses specific syllables to represent the seven notes of a major scale. These syllables indicate the position of a note within the scale.

The names of the scale degrees in tonic solfa are:

doh (tonic)
re (supertonic)
mi (mediant)
fah (subdominant)
soh (dominant)
lah (submediant)
ti (leading note)

Unmarked Octave

The unmarked octave is the standard or middle range of notes in tonic solfa. Notes in this octave do not have any dots or marks above or below them.

Examples of notes in the unmarked octave:

Octave Below

The octave below represents notes that are lower in pitch than the unmarked octave. These notes are indicated by a dot placed below the solfa syllable.

Examples of notes in the octave below:

Octave Above

The octave above represents notes that are higher in pitch than the unmarked octave. These notes are indicated by a dot placed above the solfa syllable.

Examples of notes in the octave above:

Writing Melody Using Two Octave Ranges

A melody can be written using notes from different octave ranges to create variations in pitch and musical interest. This involves combining notes from, for example, the unmarked octave and the octave above, or the unmarked octave and the octave below.

Example of a simple melody combining unmarked octave and octave above:

d r m f s .s .l s f m r d

This shows a melody moving from the unmarked octave to the octave above and then back down.

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 reviews the previous lesson briefly. The teacher then asks pupils to sing a simple solfa scale (d r m f s l t d) and asks them how they would sing a note higher or lower than the usual scale.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, recall aspects of the previous lesson, and attempt to sing higher or lower notes.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson and connect new information to prior knowledge.

Step 2: Explanation of Scale Degrees

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes the topic “Notation Solfa” on the board. The teacher then explains the seven names of scale degrees in tonic solfa (doh, re, mi, fah, soh, lah, ti) and their functions, using a solfa chart.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, observe the solfa chart, and write down the scale degrees.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and name the seven scale degrees in tonic solfa.

Step 3: Introduction to Unmarked Octave

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the concept of the unmarked octave, explaining that these notes do not have any dots. The teacher demonstrates writing these notes on the board and asks pupils to sing them.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the board, and sing the notes as demonstrated.
Learning Point: Pupils understand and can write notes in the unmarked octave.

Step 4: Introduction to Octave Below

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the octave below, demonstrating how a dot below the solfa syllable indicates lower pitch. The teacher writes examples on the board and guides pupils to sing them.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the notation, listen to the explanation, and practice singing the lower octave notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand and can write notes in the octave below.

Step 5: Introduction to Octave Above

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the octave above, showing how a dot above the solfa syllable indicates higher pitch. The teacher writes examples on the board and guides pupils to sing them.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the notation, listen to the explanation, and practice singing the higher octave notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand and can write notes in the octave above.

Step 6: Demonstrating Melody Writing

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to combine notes from two different octaves (e.g., unmarked and octave above) to write a short melody. The teacher uses a sample melody on the board and guides pupils to sing it.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the melody writing, sing the sample melody, and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils learn how to combine notes from different octaves to create a melody.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

Mention the seven scale degrees in tonic solfa.
How is a note in the octave below indicated in tonic solfa notation?
How is a note in the octave above indicated in tonic solfa notation?
Write a short solfa melody (at least 5 notes) using notes from the unmarked octave and the octave above.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of correct solfa notation for different octaves. The teacher gives pupils an assignment to compose a short solfa melody using notes from any two octave ranges.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and apply knowledge independently.

Lesson Keywords

doh – The first note or tonic of a major scale in tonic solfa.
re – The second note or supertonic of a major scale in tonic solfa.
mi – The third note or mediant of a major scale in tonic solfa.
fah – The fourth note or subdominant of a major scale in tonic solfa.
soh – The fifth note or dominant of a major scale in tonic solfa.
lah – The sixth note or submediant of a major scale in tonic solfa.
ti – The seventh note or leading note of a major scale in tonic solfa.
unmarked octave – The standard or middle range of notes in tonic solfa without any dots.
octave below – Notes lower than the unmarked octave, indicated by a dot below the solfa syllable.
octave above – Notes higher than the unmarked octave, indicated by a dot above the solfa syllable.
melody – A sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying.
notation – The act or process of representing musical sounds by written symbols.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, the teacher can challenge them to compose melodies using all three octave ranges or to identify famous melodies written in solfa notation. For pupils requiring additional support, the teacher will provide more one-on-one guidance and simpler notation exercises, focusing on one octave at a time.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that pupils have a clear understanding of basic solfa syllables before introducing octave notation. Practical singing and demonstration are important for this lesson. Encourage pupils to practice writing and singing melodies frequently to reinforce their learning.