FF 3.4 | Transcription
4 Transcription (1 Day & As Enrichment)
Objectives
Learn notable power chord riffs by ear.
Procedure
Ear Training Practice: Visually obstruct the neck of your guitar so students can’t see the fretting hand. Play two chords and have students identify if the second chord was above or below the first by indicating the direction by pointing. Play a chord and have students find the root note on their instrument.
Choosing a Class Song: Start with "All The Small Things" by Blink 182 from the listen tab.
Scaffolded Group Practice: Play the riff slowly, encouraging students to listen carefully. Have them sing it back to internalize the melody before picking up the guitar. Reveal the starting note of the riff (C on the A string) and encourage students to find the rest of the notes by themselves.
Group Work: Students work in small groups or individually to transcribe the rest of the riff.
Performance: Once the riff is learned, students practice playing it in sync with the recording, focusing on timing and accuracy.
Expansion: If time allows, introduce another song for transcription, guiding students to apply the same process independently.
Presentation: Have students play portions of the new riff that they have learned for the class.
Opening and Closing Activity Ideas
Opening Activity: Loop a two power chord riff on the teacher instrument and instruct the rest of the students to get their guitars our and copy what is being played.
Closing Activity: Have a reflective discussion on what students learned about their musical ear and how they can apply these skills outside of class.
Assessment
Informally assess students' engagement in the learning process and their ability to work independently or in groups. Provide feedback on their transcription accuracy, play-by-ear skills, and performance synchronicity with the recordings.
Differentiation
Remediation: Partner up students that are struggling with players that have stronger ears.
Enrichment: Encourage these students to transcribe more complex songs. Also, have more advanced players match the style of the reference recordings using fretting and picking hand technique.
Notes
Emphasize the process over perfection. It's okay if students struggle initially; the goal is to improve over time. When playing individually for the class, celebrate even when notes are incorrect. There will be students who feel more comfortable on-the-page and will need extra encouragement.
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