Grade 7 Music Composition/Performance Task

Composition/Performance Options:

1. Find and notate a blues scale for your instrument and perform that scale. Make sure to
find the proper key for your instrument. These scales can be found online. You only
need to perform one octave of the blues scale.
a. Above and beyond option: pre-record yourself playing the blues scale on the
loop pedal or garageband and improvise on top of your blues scale. See me for
help.
b. Optionally you can pre-record the blues school on a different instrument and
improvise on your instrument or vice versa.
2. Using garageband, record a 12 bar blues scale. Look up the proper chord
progressions for a 12 bar blues scale. Use the effects on garageband to add other
elements to this scale (electronic elements, percussion elements, etc.) You are
encouraged to use a “tone colour of complex ensembles” sound. These include jazz
sounds, choral sounds, orchestral sounds, etc. Browse the garage band sound options
for these sounds.
a. Above and beyond option: on top of your 12 bar blues recording, play your
instrument or sing a pre-existing song/create your own song to go on top of it.
Make sure to stay within the key of your 12 bar blues.

Success Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Thinking- planning Unable to use time Somewhat able to use Able to use time wisely Expertly able to use
skills wisely for this project. time wisely for this for this project. time wisely for this
project. project.

Communication-
performance of the
task
Application- ability to
apply their skills in their
performance
Knowledge- of the
musical terms in this
assignment
Unable to Somewhat able to The student is able to Student shows they
communicate their communicate their communicate their are interested in going
understanding of the understanding of the understanding of the above and beyond
musical vocabulary and musical vocabulary and musical vocabulary and expectations by
apply it to a musical apply it to a musical apply it to a musical selecting challenging
performance. performance. performance. next steps.
Performance clearly
demonstrates their
understanding of
musical terminology.

Comments:

Musical Terminology:
Blues Scale:
● Also referred to as a hexatonic scale because it consists of six notes. (The seventh note
is the beginning note up on octave).
● In C Major the notes are: C, E flat, F, F sharp, G, B flat and C
● In D Major the notes are: D, F, G, A flat, A, C and D
● In A Major the notes are: A, C, D, E flat, E, G and A
● In G Major the notes are: G, B flat, C, D flat, D, F and G

12 Bar Blues Scale:

● One of the most popular chord progressions in popular music
● In the key you are playing in, you are playing the one, four and five chord in that order.
● Very prominent in jazz music
● Chord progression order:
○ The first chord plays for the first four bars (C chord)
○ The fourth chord plays for two bars (F chord)
○ The first chord plays again for two bars (C chord)
○ The fifth chord plays for one bar (G chord)
○ The fourth chord plays for one bar (F chord)
○ The first chord plays for two bars (C chord)
○ These all equal 12 bars

Jazz Tones:
● This sound is usually comprised of horns,brass, a percussion element and the 12 bar
blues scale.
Choral Tones:
● This sound is characterized by a choir sound. This sound can consist of male and
women singers in two or more parts.
● The four parts typical of a choir are: bass, tenor, alto and soprano
● Harmony is often used in this type of music
Orchestral Tones:
● This sound is characterized by a variety of instrumental sounds. These instruments can
include: violin, cello, flute, clarinets, etc.

Additional Notes: