Sharing important issues through music and song
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand and explain how instrumental music can convey meaning.
Key learning points
- Instrumental music can be a powerful tool in communicating a powerful message.
- Music doesn't always have to sound 'nice' to be effective. Dissonance can create tension to help tell a story.
- Afrobeat music is a fusion of many different styles and influences.
- Repeated riffs can create an effective accompaniment texture.
Keywords
Dissonance - when two or more notes played together clash with each other
Afrobeat - a style of music that originated in Nigeria, often with vocals over repeated riffs
Riff - a short repeated musical idea
Common misconception
Music should always sound pleasing to the ear.
Music doesn’t have to sound ‘nice’ to be effective. There are styles of music that explore more difficult messages and use dissonance to create a particular effect.
Teacher tip
When creating riffs, allow the pupils to improvise freely against the backing track at first. This will help them find the home note D. Encourage them to experiment with more complex rhythms, including adding rhythmic interest to the second half of the riff.
Equipment
A tuned instrument with the notes DEFGA for each pupil is ideal, one between two is possible.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the musical element to their definition.
Q2.Match these dynamics to the effect they create.
Q3.What is a riff?
Q4.Call and response is a type of musical .
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which family of instruments usually drives rhythm in Afrobeat?
Q2.When notes clash together, this is called .
Q3.Match the keyword to its definition:
Q4.Afrobeat is characterised by riffs which repeat throughout the piece. This is the called an endless .
To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Sharing important issues through music and song, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Sharing important issues through music and song, 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 together: music that comments on social change unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.