Sample Class/Lesson Plan
1. Greeting and soundcheck
A chance to greet each other and make sure everyone has sound checked and is ready to play.
2. Teacher led echoback exercises
Teacher plays a single note rhythm or basic 2-4 note phrase for students to repeat back. This focuses students and gets them ready to rehearse.
3. Groove track warmup
Starting with a backing track, students join the groove when they are ready. This develops listening skills when students must listen to each other in order to keep the groove steady. Each class features a different groove in a different music genre i.e. funk, reggae, metal, jazz to experience the time in different ways.
4. Rehearse first song
We will listen to key sections of the song for reference. Songs are broken down into smaller sections that are looped for practice. Before running the entire song, we will review song form and who is soloing.
5. Musician share out
Students will have the opportunity to share the following: favorite artist/band, preferred stage name, reflection on listening assignments, favorite food, name for the band, favorite style of music, style of music they aren’t familiar with
6. Rehearse second song
Similar to first song rehearsal plan, but as students get more comfortable with the material, we will just dive right in.
7. 5 minute break
A chance to walk around, use bathroom
8. Improvisation practice
The solo sections for each of our songs will be workshopped by breaking down the music theory as well as playing exercises and written solos to train the ear and brain.
9. Rehearse third and fourth song.
Depending on how deep improvisation practice gets, we will rehearse at least one more song.