Preparing for part work: staying in time and following melodic shape
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can keep in time with others and show melodic shape using actions.
Key learning points
- Before we sing in parts, it is important we can keep a steady beat to stay in time wth others.
- In 4-time, the beat pattern feels: strong - weak - medium - weak.
- Melodic shape describes the up and down movement of pitches in music.
- We can show melodic shape using actions.
Keywords
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Thinking voice - singing music inside your head, rather than out loud
Melodic shape - the up and down movement of pitches in music
Common misconception
Pitch is the same as melodic shape.
Pitch refers to how high or low an individual note is. Melodic shape refers to the up and down contour pattern created by a series of pitches.
Teacher tip
Pupils should work out melodic shape by listening carefully to where the pitches move in a song. Avoid accidentally giving the answers by tilting your head up or down when singing, or raising and lowering your eyebrows!
Equipment
Bean bags (1 per student) and pencils (2 per student)
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.When singing with others we should ...
Q2.When singing with others we should not ...
Q3.What is pitch?
Q4.Which two of the following options can help us feel the pulse as we sing?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.When music is in 4-time, the beat pattern feels:
Q2.Match the words of the first line of 'London Bridge' with the correct beat number.
Q3.What does 'melodic shape' describe?
Q4.Sing 'Double Double'. How many pitches are there?
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Preparing for part work: staying in time and following melodic shape, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Preparing for part work: staying in time and following melodic shape, 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 Singing for performance: discovering different ways to sing in harmony unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.