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Lesson 3 of 6
Identifying high and low notes
I can hear the difference between high and low notes in our songs.
Lesson 3 of 6
New
New
Identifying high and low notes
I can hear the difference between high and low notes in our songs.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Pitch is how high or low a note sounds.
- We can use actions with our bodies to help us hear the high and low notes in a song.
- Unpitched percussion instruments do not play higher or lower pitches.
- Rhythms can be played on unpitched instruments.
- When we chant as we play rhythms, it helps us stay in time.
Keywords
Pitch - how high or low a note is
Note - a single sound in music
Rhythm - the pattern of sounds we play and sing
Common misconception
All instruments can play different notes.
Some instruments are unpitched. This means they do not create different high and low sounds when played.
Play conducting games when introducing instruments - opening and closing hands to tell pupils when to start and stop playing for example. This will give pupils a few moments to play their instruments freely, and to ensure they know it is important to follow the leader to start and stop.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Selection of unpitched percussion that can play a clear rhythm, for example claves, wooden agogos, woodblocks or tambours.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
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4 Questions
Q1.What is call and response?
What is call and response?
an exact copy of a musical phrase
Q2.We play instruments by striking, shaking or scraping them.
We play instruments by striking, shaking or scraping them.
Q3.A __________ is a part of a word.
A __________ is a part of a word.
song
pitch
pulse
Q4.Which rhythm shows Ta-di?
Which rhythm shows Ta-di?
Assessment exit quiz
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4 Questions
Q1.Which of these actions do we use for high notes?
Which of these actions do we use for high notes?
touch your knees
Q2.What is pitch?
What is pitch?
how loud or quiet a note is
how fast or slow a note is
the steady, heartbeart of the msuic
Q3.Match the musical element to its definition.
Match the musical element to its definition.
the way the music is organised
how high or low the note sounds
the pattern of sounds we play and sing
Q4.Which of the following is true?
Which of the following is true?
unpitched instruments can play many different high and low notes.
all wooden instruments can play many different high and low notes.