Captain, Go Sidetrack Your Train

• Sarah Fairfield
• Posted 3/20/23
• 0 comments

Composing with La Pentatonic Tonal Center

Suggested Grades: 3-5

National Core Arts Standards 

#1 — Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.  
#2 — Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.  
#3 — Refine and complete artistic work. 
#4 — Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.  
#10 — Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.  

Objectives 

• Identify, Perform and Compose with La as the Tonal Center. 

Materials  

• Barred instruments & tambourine 
• PowerPoint — Optional

Suggested Teaching Process

1. Listen to music with a la tonal center. 
   Example: Step Back Baby – Doug Goodkin & the Pentatonics (see YouTube or Spotify)
2. Using the solfege ladder, lead students through solfege patterns, focusing on la as a tonal center.
3. Discuss: 
   – What makes a particular pitch sound like a tonal center or home note? 
   – How does a La tonal center sound different from a Do tonal center? 
4. Sing the song for students using solfege.
5. Students listen and identify the Tonal Center: Is it la- or do-based? (la) 
6. Identify where to find la on the staff. (E=la) 
7. Teach the song using echo imitation on solfege. 
8. Add words. 
9. Repeat until students can sing independently. 

Adding Instruments: 

1. Label the notes of the xylophone in G Pentatonic (remove the C and F bars) 
2. Identify the solfege – (E=la) 
3. Teach the accompaniment. 
4. Sing with accompaniment. 

Composition: 

1. Teach the following spoken text: 

2. Students use the rhythm of the text to create a melody.  
3. Discuss the idea of what makes a melody sound best with students. 
   • Use notes that repeat. 
   • Choose notes that move by skip or step. 
   • Start and end on home tone LA. 
4. Model how to break down the text into smaller chunks. 
5. Start with “railways and train cars” so students can remember their melody. 
6. Add additional phrases until the composition is finished. 
7. Allow students to share their “compositions.”   

Extension

Consider creating a final performance using the song “Captain Don’t Sidetrack Your Train” with instrumental parts, alternating with student compositions over the bass line. 

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