Composing and notating a major melody
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compose and notate a major melody considering the use of steps and leaps, repetition and melodic shape.
Key learning points
- Stave notation can tell us the rhythm and pitch of a melody, which we can use to help us perform it accurately.
- We can compose by selecting pitches from the major pentachord for an existing rhythm.
- Effective melodies start and end on ‘do’ and move mostly by step, with some leaps.
- We can use repeating patterns to make our melody and rhythm compositions sound organised.
Keywords
Major pentachord - the first 5 notes of a major scale - do re mi fa so
Melody - a combination of notes to make a memorable tune
Compose - to create a piece of music over time
Stave - lines on which musical notes can be placed
Common misconception
When composing, to make a melody interesting, it should be complicated with lots of different notes.
A simple melody with lots of repetition and stepwise movement often makes a more memorable melody.
Teacher tip
Encourage the pupils to try out different melodies and choose the notes they like, rather than choosing notes by written notation. Emphasise composing is an aural skill rather than a written skill.
Equipment
Class set of pitched percussion, eg. glockenspiels, xylophones or chime bars.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is a musical composition?
Q2.How would you describe this rhythm?
Q3.The horizontal lines that notes are placed on is called a .
Q4.The first note of a major pentachord is?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Effective melodies should ...
Q2.A good note for melodies with a major tonality to start on is ...
Q3.True or false? Using repetition in a composition makes the music sound more organised.
Q4.Match the following musical terms to their definition.
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Composing and notating a major melody, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Composing and notating a major melody, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 music lessons from the Compose and Create: composing a major melody on a stave unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.