Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Music
Curriculum Theme: Music Theory
Previous Lesson: Transposition: Meaning and Dominant Key Transposition.
Topic: Identification of triads/ chords. Tonality. Triads (Primary and secondary).
Subject Matter: Meaning of triads and chords (three-note chords and basic chord structures), meaning of tonality (sense of key centre in music), primary and secondary triads (triads built on main and other scale degrees), writing triads on given roots (root position), inverting triads (1st inversion, 2nd inversion), identifying inverted triads in a piece of music.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define triads, chords, and tonality.
List the primary and secondary triads in a given major key.
Explain the concept of triad inversions.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of triads and tonality in music composition.
Show interest in analyzing chord structures in musical pieces.
Develop a systematic approach to identifying chords.

Psychomotor Domain:

Write triads in root position on given roots.
Invert triads into first and second inversions.
Identify inverted triads in a simple musical score.

Collaborate with peers to identify different chord structures.
Participate actively in class discussions on music theory.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Adegbite, A. (2018). Comprehensive Music Theory for Senior Secondary Schools. Lagos: University Press Plc.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Keyboard
Chord chart
Printed musical score with simple harmonies
Manuscript paper
Pencils

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the fundamental building blocks of harmony in music. Knowing triads and tonality enables pupils to analyze, compose, and perform music with a deeper understanding of its structure. It also provides a foundation for more advanced music theory concepts.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are expected to have prior knowledge of musical notes, scales (major and minor), intervals, and basic staff notation.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Identification of Triads/Chords and Tonality

Meaning of Triads and Chords

A chord is a combination of three or more musical notes played simultaneously. A triad is a specific type of chord consisting of three notes stacked in intervals of a third (root, third, fifth).

Meaning of Tonality

Tonality refers to the organization of musical notes around a central note, called the tonic. This creates a sense of a key, where certain notes and chords feel more stable or resolved than others.

Primary and Secondary Triads

Triads are built on each degree of a scale. They are categorized based on their importance and function within a key.

Primary Triads: These are the most important and stable triads in a key. They are built on the 1st (Tonic), 4th (Subdominant), and 5th (Dominant) degrees of the scale.
Secondary Triads: These are built on the 2nd (Supertonic), 3rd (Mediant), 6th (Submediant), and 7th (Leading-note) degrees of the scale. They provide color and variation.

Example in C Major:

Primary Triads:
- I (Tonic): C-E-G (C Major)
- IV (Subdominant): F-A-C (F Major)
- V (Dominant): G-B-D (G Major)
Secondary Triads:
- ii (Supertonic): D-F-A (D minor)
- iii (Mediant): E-G-B (E minor)
- vi (Submediant): A-C-E (A minor)
- vii° (Leading-note): B-D-F (B diminished)

Writing Triads on Given Roots (Root Position)

A triad is in root position when its root (the note from which the triad is built) is the lowest note. To write a triad in root position, stack a third and a fifth above the root.

Example:

To write a C Major triad in root position: C (root) – E (third) – G (fifth).
To write an F Minor triad in root position: F (root) – A♭ (third) – C (fifth).

Inverting Triads

Inverting a triad means rearranging its notes so that a note other than the root becomes the lowest note. The notes of the chord remain the same, only their order changes.

First Inversion: The third of the chord is the lowest note. The interval from the bass note to the original root is a sixth. (Symbol: 6 or 6/3)
Second Inversion: The fifth of the chord is the lowest note. The intervals from the bass note to the original root and third are a fourth and a sixth respectively. (Symbol: 6/4)

Example (C Major Triad: C-E-G):

Root Position: C-E-G
First Inversion: E-G-C (E is the lowest note)
Second Inversion: G-C-E (G is the lowest note)

Identifying Inverted Triads in Music

To identify an inverted triad in a piece of music:

Determine the actual notes forming the chord.
Rearrange the notes into their closest root position (stacking in thirds) to find the root.
Compare the lowest note of the chord as written in the music with the root you identified.
- If the lowest note is the root, it’s root position.
- If the lowest note is the third, it’s a first inversion.
- If the lowest note is the fifth, it’s a second inversion.

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 introduces the topic by playing simple chord progressions on the keyboard and asks pupils what they observe about how notes are combined. The teacher briefly reviews previous knowledge on scales and intervals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the chord progressions and respond to the teacher’s questions, recalling their knowledge of scales and intervals.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of chords and relate it to prior knowledge.

Step 2: Meaning of Triads and Chords

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines “chord” and “triad,” explaining that triads are three-note chords built in thirds. The teacher uses the keyboard and chord chart to demonstrate.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, define the terms in their own words, and observe the demonstrations on the keyboard and chart.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the basic definitions of chords and triads.

Step 3: Understanding Tonality

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains tonality as the sense of a key center in music, using C major as an example to illustrate how notes relate to the tonic.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss the concept of a “key” and how it gives music a sense of direction, relating it to familiar songs.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the meaning of tonality and its role in music.

Step 4: Primary and Secondary Triads

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Categorization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains primary and secondary triads, listing them for a specific key (e.g., C Major) and demonstrating their sound on the keyboard.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and list the primary and secondary triads for the given key and listen to their distinct sounds.
Learning Point: Pupils differentiate between primary and secondary triads and understand their functions.

Step 5: Writing and Inverting Triads

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Practical Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to write a triad in root position on manuscript paper and then shows how to invert it into first and second inversions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice writing and inverting simple triads on their manuscript paper, following the teacher’s demonstration.
Learning Point: Pupils develop the practical skill of writing and inverting triads.

Step 6: Identifying Inverted Triads in Music

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a short musical score and guides pupils to identify triads in root position, first inversion, and second inversion, explaining the visual cues.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils work individually or in pairs to identify and mark inverted triads in the provided musical score.
Learning Point: Pupils apply their knowledge to identify inverted triads in a musical context.

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 triad and explain its relationship to a chord.
What is tonality, and why is it important in music?
List the primary and secondary triads in the key of G major.
Write a D minor triad in root position, first inversion, and second inversion.

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 learning points about triads, tonality, and inversions, and assigns homework to practice writing and identifying triads.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the assigned homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding and are prepared for further practice.

Lesson Keywords

Triad – A three-note chord built in intervals of a third.
Chord – A combination of three or more notes played simultaneously.
Tonality – The organization of musical pitches around a central key or tonic.
Root Position – A triad where the root note is the lowest note.
First Inversion – A triad where the third of the chord is the lowest note.
Second Inversion – A triad where the fifth of the chord is the lowest note.
Primary Triads – Triads built on the I, IV, and V degrees of a scale.
Secondary Triads – Triads built on the II, III, VI, and VII degrees of a scale.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to identify more complex inverted chords or analyze tonality in more intricate musical examples. For pupils who require more support, the teacher will provide additional individual guidance, simplified examples, and allow more time for practical exercises on the keyboard.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that the keyboard demonstrations are clear and audible. Encourage active participation and provide ample opportunities for pupils to practice writing and identifying triads. Use visual aids like large staff paper or a projector for clarity when demonstrating writing and inversions. Provide varied musical examples for identification practice.