Musical instruments and pitch
I can explain how the pitch of sounds can be changed on a variety of musical instruments.
Musical instruments and pitch
I can explain how the pitch of sounds can be changed on a variety of musical instruments.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Many musical instruments can make different pitched sounds.
- Changing the length of the vibrating object can affect the pitch of the sound it produces.
- Larger vibrating objects make lower pitched sounds. Smaller vibrating objects make higher pitched sounds.
Keywords
Musical instrument - A musical instrument is an object that produces musical sounds.
Pitched - How pitched a sound is tells us how high or how low it is.
Vibrations - Vibrating is when an object moves very fast from side to side.
Affect - When a change occurs between two things, we can observe how one thing affects another.
Common misconception
Children may think that larger and longer objects vibrating produce louder sounds, without linking this to the pitch of sounds.
If working at school, empty the cupboard of as many musical instruments you can find to explore and demonstrate with. Encourage children who play musical instruments to share their experiences too.
Equipment
A range of musical instruments and/or everyday objects to make musical sounds with. Sound meters (including free pitch-meter apps) to detect pitch.
Content guidance
- Exploration of objects
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is happening to the skin of the drum when it is making a sound? The drum skin is ...
Q2.What is the scientific name for how high or low sounds are?
Q3.Izzy blows into a paper straw to make a buzzing sound. What is vibrating to make the sound?
Q4.Izzy thinks that changing the length of the straw may change how high or low the sound is. Which statement do you agree with?
Q5.What equipment can be used to measure pitch?
Q6.Match the unit of measurement to what it measures.
hertz
decibels
lux
minutes
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these objects is a musical instrument?
Q2.Which statement about musical instruments is true?
Q3.Which drum will produce the lowest pitch sound?
Q4.Jacob plays the recorder. Which statement do you agree with?
Q5.What happens to the pitch of a guitar string when your finger moves down the fingerboard?
Q6.Jacob fills bottles with different amounts of water. He blows over the top of each bottle to produce a musical sound. Which statement below do you agree with?
