Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 4
Introducing programme music
I can create a short piece of programme music as an ensemble and know that programme music aims to represent something non-musical, such as telling a story.
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- Year 4
Introducing programme music
I can create a short piece of programme music as an ensemble and know that programme music aims to represent something non-musical, such as telling a story.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Programme music is music that has been inspired by something non-musical. For example, a story or a piece of artwork.
- Absolute music is music that is not inspired by anything else. It focuses just on the notes the composer wishes to use.
- A movement is a self-contained section of a large-scale musical composition, like a chapter in a book.
- A symphonic work is a large-scale musical composition with distinct movements (usually four).
- Deep Field composed by Eric Whitacre is a symphonic work in four movements that is an example of programme music.
Keywords
Programme music - instrumental music that aims to represent something non-musical, such as a story, picture, scene, idea or emotion
Absolute music - instrumental music that does not try to represent anything other than the music itself, focusing purely on the musical elements
Symphonic work - a large-scale musical composition with distinct movements (usually four)
Movement - a self-contained section of a large-scale musical composition, like a chapter in a book
Common misconception
Musicians are always trying to tell a story with music.
Sometimes music is created for music's sake and may not have any deeper meaning than what the listener creates for themselves.
To help you plan your year 4 music lesson on: Introducing programme music, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 music lesson on: Introducing programme music, 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.
Explore more key stage 2 music lessons from the Compose and create: cosmic programme music unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Variety of classroom percussion for the pupils to select from. Paper and pencils.
Licence
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