Compose and create: improvising with four notes
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Why this why now
This unit builds on previous work on pitch and notation. Pupils embed their understanding of do, mi, so, la, using these tones to both play a known melody and improvise on pitched percussion. Pupils continue to study stick notation, using this to support their improvisations. Through the contrast of written notation and improvisation, pupils develop their understanding of the difference between composition and improvisation.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Pupils have sung songs using the toneset do, mi, so, la.
- Pupils have used different ways to notate and record music.
- Pupils can read four note notation on a simplified stave and can represent this using movement and singing.
- Pupils can identify the direction of pitch in an ascending or descending four note toneset.
- Pupils have played three note melodies (mi, so, la) on pitched percussion.
- Pupils have had previous opportunities to compose and improvise music on tuned percussion.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on previous work on pitch and notation. Pupils embed their understanding of do, mi, so, la, using these tones to both play a known melody and improvise on pitched percussion. Pupils continue to study stick notation, using this to support their improvisations. Through the contrast of written notation and improvisation, pupils develop their understanding of the difference between composition and improvisation.
Prior knowledge requirements
- Pupils have sung songs using the toneset do, mi, so, la.
- Pupils have used different ways to notate and record music.
- Pupils can read four note notation on a simplified stave and can represent this using movement and singing.
- Pupils can identify the direction of pitch in an ascending or descending four note toneset.
- Pupils have played three note melodies (mi, so, la) on pitched percussion.
- Pupils have had previous opportunities to compose and improvise music on tuned percussion.
Compose and create: improvising with four notes
In this unit, pupils use a baking theme to replicate and improvise four note melodies. Pupils read and reorder known rhythm patterns and use these to improvise on pitched percussion within their four note toneset. A final performance in ABA structure is created.
6 lessons in unit
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