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Lesson 1 of 6
  • Year 4

Preparing for part work: staying in time and following melodic shape

I can keep in time with others and show melodic shape using actions.

Lesson 1 of 6
New
New
  • Year 4

Preparing for part work: staying in time and following melodic shape

I can keep in time with others and show melodic shape using actions.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Before we sing in parts, it is important we can keep a steady beat to stay in time wth others.
  2. In 4-time, the beat pattern feels: strong - weak - medium - weak.
  3. Melodic shape describes the up and down movement of pitches in music.
  4. 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.


To help you plan your year 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...

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!
Teacher tip

Equipment

Bean bags (1 per student) and pencils (2 per student)

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
When singing with others we should ...

Correct answer: stay in time with the beat
sing as loudly as possible
avoid warming up

Q2.
When singing with others we should not ...

listen to those around us
Correct answer: sing louder than everyone else
sing gently

Q3.
What is pitch?

the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
the first five notes of a major scale
Correct answer: how high or low a note is
how loud or quiet the music is

Q4.
Which two of the following options can help us feel the pulse as we sing?

sing louder
Correct answer: tap the pulse
sing quieter
Correct answer: move to the steady beat

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
When music is in 4-time, the beat pattern feels:

weak-weak-strong-weak
strong-medium-weak-weak
medium-weak-strong-weak
Correct answer: strong-weak-medium-weak

Q2.
Match the words of the first line of 'London Bridge' with the correct beat number.

Correct Answer:bridge is,2

2

Correct Answer:down,4

4

Correct Answer:London,1

1

Correct Answer:falling,3

3

Q3.
What does 'melodic shape' describe?

the volume of the music
Correct answer: how pitches move up and down in a song
the order of the words in a song
the shape of the singer's mouth

Q4.
Sing 'Double Double'. How many pitches are there?

2
Correct answer: 3
4
5
6

Additional material

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