3 O’Clock Rock Group Class Outline 2024-2025
Welcome to 3 O’Clock Rock! Thank you for signing up.
In this class you will:
Start a Band,
Write a Song(s),
Play a Show,
4) Make a Recording, complete with album artwork for a release on 3 O’Clock Rock Records!
You will also learn the basics on instruments like guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and vocals.
There will be a performance in class for parents and families on the last day.
3 O’Clock Rock has a record label where we release student original songs. People from all over the world listen to them and we invite you to write a song for a future release!!
You can listen and see our releases online at: 3oclockrockrecords.bandcamp.com
Let’s get started.
The class is divided into three equal segments:
Songwriting,
Instruments lessons,
Album artwork.
Expect to rotate the groups between these 3 stations each class.
Please allow 10- 15 mins for settling in and cleaning up at the end of class.
Course Outline
The following course outline applies for classes with the length of 8-12 weeks.
Week 1
Please Introduce yourselves and name one instrument you play or would like to play.
Explain the Goals of the class - In this class we will:
Write a song complete with lyrics, music, recording, and album artwork.
Performance on last day of class
In today’s first class please play the
Zombie game until everyone gets the correct beat. Also, please give the students a chance to lead the game.
For 1-5 classes only: Then divide into groups based on grade levels - 1-2nd, and 3-5. (There shouldn’t be any 1st or 2nd graders in a group with 3rd, 4th, and 5th).
Also, there should only be 3 groups total in your class. This way you can do the rotations in your future classes as explained in your training and course curriculum.
Then play the Band Name Game.
When completed, please write the names of the bands and their respective band members on the shared google doc.
Group details, by grade, and by randomization to prevent kids feeling left out.
To randomize: Assign numbers to each student, 1, 2, and 3 then have all the 1’s get together in an assigned spot in the room, and the same for the 2’s, and 3’s.
Play the Band Name Game
Please prepare small papers and distribute 10 little torn papers to each student. They should be large enough to write one or two words on each.
(Must have a hat or bag, something to collect and draw the papers from).
Students must write one answer per paper/per question.
Then drop in the hat.
What’s your:
Favorite Food
Favorite Animal
Favorite Color
Favorite Candy / Ice Cream Gelato
Favorite Hero
Favorite Villain
Scariest Insect
Scariest Movie Monster
Favorite Dance Move
Favorite Name
When all papers have been collected, each group may draw 2 papers.
Assign a scribe to write down the answers and combinations of those words.
For example, say you draw “BLACK”, “CATS”.
The scribe could write, “ The Black Cats” , or “The Cat Blacks”, “The Kat a Blax”, “The kit Kat Blacks”, “The Black Kitty Cats”
Encourage them to be creative. Use poetic license.
When Complete, the kids can vote on which name is their favorite.
Write all the band names down for reference in future classes along with the kids' names in those groups.
Activity #2
Together with the class, pick one topic and write 25 words or 4 lines that rhyme .
Week 2 -
Song writing -
The goal for each group, each day will be to write 25 words or 4 lines that rhyme for their song.
Once done together, break up into groups and have them write their own 25 words.
25 words should be 4 lines with at least 2 rhymes.You may use www.rhymezone.com
You may use these song topics and questions below to help you with your song.
Please choose from the following writing prompts:
Dream touring Vehicle: When you are in a band, you go on tour! Together with your band mates we will write and record an original song about your dream touring vehicle. It can be anything from a hot rod to a spaceship!
What color or colors is it?
What is the shape of it?
Pet Song - We all love our pets and think of them as family members. Write a song about your pet and tell us about them- i.e.
What type of animal are they?
What’s their personality like?
What color are they?
What are their behaviors?
What do they eat?
Example 1 of 25 words or 4 lines:
Matilda is a dog
She is not a frog
She is anxious and happy
Her ears are flappy
Example 2
Matilda’s hair is gold
Her pretzel choice is Rold
Mochi and Bean are tom cats
They fly through the air like acrobats
Example 3
One has stripes and the other is Brown
The’ll stare out the window and look at the town
Mochi is a siamese mix
When given treats they do tricks
Video Games - Write a song about your favorite Video Game.
What is your favorite Video Game?
What do you know about your favorite video game?
Who do you play against? Your friend, the computer ?
How does one play the game?
Favorite Characters ?
Which console(s) is it available for?
Do you have a game cartridge or download from the internet?
What are your favorite moves/potion/maneuver/weapon of this character?
What do they look like?
What are their behaviors?
Personal traits?
What are their natural abilities ?
What about your character do you like the most?
What sound or sounds on your instrument could make your character dance?
What sounds would go well with your character?
Simpsons Character - Write a song about your favorite Simpsons Character.
Who is your favorite character and Why? Tell us about them in your song.
What happens to them in the show?
What do they look like?
Who are they friends with?
Which are your favorite episodes with them in it?
How old are they?
Do they have an arch nemesis?
Favorite Restaurant - Write about your favorite restaurant or place to eat.
Tell us about the place in your song.
What’s its name?
Where is it located?
What type of food is it?
What are the menu items?
What’s your favorite dish?
Who do you eat there with?
What do they order on the menu?
When do you go there?
How often do you go there?
Favorite place to visit - Pick your favorite place to visit in the universe and tell us about it.
Where is it?
How can we get there - Plane, train, automobile, bike, walk, spaceship?
Who lives there?
What can we do when we are there?
Why is it such a desirable place to go?
Do other people like it?
What types of activities do you do when you are there?
Teachers will use a 1 shared google docs file per class per semester to transcribe and update the progress made by each group with their songs respectively.
You should complete the 50-75 words by the end of the 4th week.
Please see the example of a song chart complete with lyrics and note names and fret numbers.
Ek Mek the Smol Bean - Esme's Pet Song
Instruments: Play The Zombie game again this time using the drums ! 1….2…..3…...4….stop! Start at a very slow speed, then increase the speed as the kids get the hang of the game.
Teacher will substitute stop and ask the class which beat we stopped on?
Class will raise 1, 2, 3, or 4 fingers for the beat we stopped on.
Up beats - snare beats 2, and 4
Teach students that a bar measure can be counted 1, 2, 3, 4, then it starts over at 1.
Album Artwork: Draw the band name in their own lettering style
Collect all lyrics, and artwork at the end of class and bring with you to the following classes.
Week 3
Songwriting: 25 more rhyming words
Instruments: Draw My Keyboard, then quiz the kids on the notes while standing in front of the keyboard.
For example:
I’m thinking of a white key on the left hand side of the group of 2 black keys.
What is the name of this key?
Once they answer C, then ask them to play it.
Repeat the above language and ask them to play a different C than the previous time.
Then try other white keys like D
For example:
I’m thinking of a white key in the middle of the group of 2 black keys.
What is the name of this key?
Once they answer D, then ask them to play it.
Repeat the above language and ask them to play a different D than the previous time.
Then try notes B.
For example:
I’m thinking of a white key on the right hand side of the group of 3 black keys.
What is the name of this key?
Once they answer B, then ask them to play it.
Repeat the above language and ask them to play a different B than the previous time.
Then try a black key.
For example:
I’m thinking of a black key on the right hand side of the group of 3 black keys.
What is the name of this key?
Once they answer A#, then ask them to play it.
Repeat the above language and ask them to play a different A# than the previous time.
Do as many notes as you can until the class is recognizing the notes quicker and quicker.
Then go back and do the white keys, G, and A.
For example:
I’m thinking of a white key within the group of 3 black keys on the left hand side.
What is the name of this key?
Once they answer G, then ask them to play it.
Repeat the above language and ask them to play a different B than the previous time.
Album Artwork: Draw a person, place or thing
Week 4
Songwriting: Write a Catchy chorus. It doesn't need to be rhyming, and often includes the title of the song.
Intro to Melodic instruments: Guitar and Bass
Types of melodic instruments we have: Guitar, bass, Keyboard, and Voice
Go over the parts of the instruments, how to hold them, and how to pinch a note and strum with the other hand.
Then teach “Judy is a Punk” or a song you are familiar with.
Call out the fret numbers so they can focus on fretting out Judy is a punk song charts and have them fill in the blanks.
Album Artwork - Continue drawing person, place, or thing.
Week 5
Songwriting: 2 verses, and 1 chorus. Have one student sing the lyrics and you as the teacher find supportive notes on a melodic instrument and write them down in the song lyric chart.
Instruments - By this week you will have covered drums, keyboards, guitar/bass. Teach them a pattern they all can play over and over again on those respective instruments. The pattern can be 2-3 different notes but keep it simple. Assign instruments and give each student a chance to try all the instruments.
Album Artwork - Draw Song title in fun lettering-
Continue drawing person, place, or thing.
Week 6
Songwriting: Teach song structure. A= Verse, B =Chorus, C= Bridge
Types of song structure.
A B A B,
A A B,
B A B A
A A B A B C A B
etc..
Teach the kids what a bridge is and how it can be applied.
Instruments - Create a melody for your lyrics and find support chords for the melody.
Album Artwork - Draw a Show Poster with all the band names on it, time, location, an venue name
Week 7
Songwriting: Finalize your song, print and distribute - going through the entire song and playing it - acoustic guitar, and the vocalist - play the song several times and get everyone on the same page. - Think backstage - warm up before the concert .
Instruments - Rehearse song and record different versions of it using voice memos on your own device. Note: Bands that complete their songs sooner will have more time to rehearse it. Please remind the students to complete their works and that the end of the semester is soon and they need to get it done. - stage rehearsal
Album Artwork - Complete artwork. Once complete, take a photo in good lighting. No shadows please. Keep on file and submit to info@threeoclockrock.com along with song recording.
Weeks 8-10
Songwriting: Your songs should be complete. Distribute a typed chart like Ek Mek the Smol Bean - Esme's Pet Song
To each member of the band for them to follow.
Instruments - Rehearse songs and record them in these weeks.
Album Artwork - Students can put together a collage of their artworks, or decide on which artwork works best for the song.
Talk about the presentation and what to expect for the show
What are the type of behaviors are the other bands not playing doing:
Teaching them how to be a good audience - dress rehearsal
What is an MC? Master of Ceremonies - they engage the audience and introduces the bands, and their members
Tell the audience to look forward to the student song releases on our website
3oclockrock.com
Last Day of class
Confirm that you have a recording, and full color artwork completed and send to info@threeoclockrock.com for a future release on 3 O’Clock Rock Records.
Set up - Write on the board the following
• Set up chairs and room for performance
• Tape artworks on wall or music
• Unwind cables and plug in guitars
• Place the drums and mic stands - help with spacing them
Teachers responsibilities: Tuning guitars, and getting the right levels of the mics’s and the instruments -
Order of volume with the highest being the vocal microphones, then the keyboards and guitars, and the drums.
Last Rehearsal - 1st half of the class
Performance - 2nd half of the class
After the performance- one or both teachers can announce the other programs at Francisco Studios, the concerts we do outside of the classes, and opportunities for their kids to continue music with their band or others that are interested.
Clean up
Links to other 3 O’Clock Rock materials:
3 O'Clock Rock Gabba Gabba Hey! / Keepin the Beat Levels 1-3
Tickling the Ivories Level 1.pdf
Shred 'Til You're Dead! 3 O'Clock Rock's Level 2 Guitar Handbook.pdf
Links to other song charts by 3 O’ClocK Rock bands:
Patti and Bo - May
Aburaya Japanese Fried Chicken
PT Cruiser, Ain't No Loser - Threat Level Midnight
Animals Song by Adelaide
Daily Class Schedule example. - WRITE ON BOARD
