Flamenco Chord Progression

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Editor’s Note: This is a lesson plan created by Nathan Nie via an experimental “create your own lesson plan” feature on this website. It has been minimally edited by Devin Ulibarri. You may test the feature yourself, and submit your own lesson plans here: https://musicblocks.net/create-a-lesson-plan/

Flamenco Chord Progression

Age:

8-10

Number of students:

Up to 10

Rationale:

Students will learn simple notes on the guitar, as well as how the program works. They will learn how to follow a steady beat, which is necessary to accurately play over the progression. They will also learn the characteristics of flamenco music, as well as why the melody they play harmonizes with the chord progression.

Objectives:

Students will play along with the chord progression with their guitars, following the notes on the screen. Simple percussion could also be added with the tambourines. The program structure could also be explored. By the end of the lesson, the students will be comfortably able to play on the high E string as while following a steady beat.

Lesson

Introduction:

Begin by listening to flamenco music and ask the students what they hear in it. Then, identify certain characteristics unique to the style such as rhythms.

Review:

Review the basics of the guitar, and the first four frets of the E string, as well as concept of whole steps and half steps.

Part 1:

A. Setup

  1. Open Program (Note: You may need to reload every time you run it due to a bug with the chord block.)
  2. Have students listen to chord progression, played on Music Blocks. (See project link and sheet music below.)
  3. Hand students guitars.
  4. Teacher demonstrates how to play the two notes along with the progression.

B. Play the music

  1. Identify notes needed to play. Make sure students are comfortable playing with them.
  2. Begin playing. Start with quarter notes. 
  3. Have another group of students play eighth notes, and if possible dotted eighth notes with sixteenth note
  4. Alternate groups, and for more advanced students add new notes

Break

Part 2:

C. Analyzing code

  1. Start at start block
  2. Go through code, visiting each action block and explaining why actions are useful

D. Music Analysis

  1. Go through each chord (D min, F maj, B flat maj, A maj, and C maj)
  2. Write scale on whiteboard, using WWHWWWH (whole steps and half steps), ask students to participate. Use piano to help.
  3. Identify interval between note played by students (E or F) and the tonic (first note) of chord.
  4. Teacher will briefly explain why these intervals are important and what you can do with them.

Assessment:

1. Observe participation and playing of the melody
2. Did the students understand the concept of intervals and chords?
3. Were the students able to improvise rhythms over the chord progression?

Materials:

  1. Music Blocks software with Chrome or Chromium installed and a working Internet connection
  2. Piano
  3. Whiteboard
  4. Guitars

Resources:

1. Project Link: https://musicblocks.net/2024/07/03/flamenco-chord-progressions/
2. The second half of the progress is similar to this: https://invidious.private.coffee/watch?v=EV6LM915UwY (the original track Nathan used as a model will be added later.)

Project Link: https://musicblocks.sugarlabs.org/index.html?id=1720021692408217&run=True