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Writer's pictureMusical Contexts

Back in Time to 1950s Rock n Roll

Travel back in time to the 1950s and explore Rock 'n Roll in two fully-resourced lessons.

As part of the Musical Contexts "Build Your Own KS3 Music Curriculum", Back in Time to Popular Music takes pupils back to the 1950s and the age of Rock 'n' Roll.

Each of the two fully-resourced lessons comes with a lesson plan, pupil worksheet (containing spaces for all activities and scores) and lesson presentation. Supporting media files in MP3 and WAV formats are also included separately.

The lessons use Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" as a case study and example of a typical 1950's Rock 'n' Roll song. In lesson 1, pupils explore the origins and features of Rock 'n' Roll and learn the 12-bar Blue Chord Pattern and Walking Bass Line, characteristic of the genre, then add a vocal melody line to the verse. In lesson 2, pupils explore how texture and structure are used in Rock 'n' Roll by adding the introduction to the verse and adding textural layers and structural sections to their performance.

Each lesson starts with an Intro Quiz/DOITNOW, with PIT STOP opportunities to review key learning and ends with an interactive multiple choice Exit Quiz. There are also Stretch and Challenge tasks for more able and GAT pupils.



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