Reading and playing major melodies
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can read and play major melodies on tuned percussion.
Key learning points
- Stave notation can tell us the rhythms and pitches used in a melody, which we can use to help us perform it accurately.
- A rhythmic ostinato is a repeating pattern of sounds that can be clapped or played on a percussion instrument.
- We can select different rhythms to compose a rhythmic ostinato.
- Rhythmic ostinati can be played as an accompaniment to a sung melody.
Keywords
Stave - lines on which musical notes can be placed
Composition - a new piece of music that has been created
Accompaniment - a musical part that supports the main melody or chant
Rhythmic ostinato - a repeating musical idea created from a rhythmic pattern
Common misconception
A rhythmic ostinato is the same as the rhythm of the words.
We can make an ostinato using the rhythms of the words but often the ostinato has a different rhythm. It can be tricky to play an ostinato and sing a different rhythm!
Teacher tip
When learning to play melodies on pitched percussion instruments, give pupils a combination of group practice time (all playing the melody together as a class) and individual practice time when they can work at their own pace.
Equipment
Class set of pitched percussions instruments. You could also use unpitched percussion to compose and play the ostinatos.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the major pentachord?
Q2.What do we call the following rhythms?
Q3.What would be the correct way of chanting this rhythmic pattern?
Q4.What is a pitched percussion instrument?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is an ostinato?
Q2.A stave is ...
Q3.How would you chant this rhythm?
Q4.What is an accompaniment part?
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Reading and playing major melodies, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Reading and playing major melodies, 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.