concepts covered: improvisation, aural, scales and chords … · 2019-03-01 · ing secondo will...

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CONCEPTS COVERED: Improvisation, aural, scales and chords STUDENT LEVEL: Any level


Vibrant Music Teaching

This game is based on the Irish folk tale The Harp of Dagda. The game will be infinitely more fun if you first briefly explain the story of Dagda and his magic harp that would cast spells on people. Only Dagda could play the magic harp and in the legend, he used it in bat-tles to defeat his enemies by making them laugh hysterically, cry uncontrollably or fall asleep.

HOW TO PLAY

• Choose a primo, secondo and magic pattern card at random. • The primo card decides the scale the person playing primo will use to improvise.• The secondo card decides the bass pattern. The person play-ing secondo will play this pattern over and over in the same key as the primo. They can play single root notes, chords or accompaniment patterns, depending on their level.• Before you start to improvise, the primo must decide what the spell will be. This should be an action that lasts 4 beats, for example:

• Freeze for 4 beats• Tap the fallboard 4 times• Clap the pattern q ryqq

• Both players will do this any time the primo plays the magic pattern. The secondo needs to listen carefully for the magic pattern while they play.• The secondo decides when the piece ends and plays a low do to signal the ending.

ASSEMBLYTo assemble this game:

• Print out the game cards (pages 3-14) double-sided. • Cut apart and laminate if desired.

LEARNING OBJECTIVEThrough this improvisation game students are learning about scales, chords and Roman numerals as well as developing their au-ral skills by listening for a certain pattern.

Dagda's Harp

Dagda's Harp







concepts covered: improvisation, aural, scales and chords … · 2019-03-01 · ing secondo will...

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