Folk songs and the major pentachord
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can follow the melodic shape of major tonality folk songs, singing and signing the major pentachord and framing this with a drone accompaniment.
Key learning points
- When we sing, we string together a series of high and low notes to create a melody.
- Hand signs help us identify the shape of a melody, if it is ascending or descending, moving in step or in leaps.
- The major pentachord is the first five notes of the major scale: do, re, mi, fa, so.
- Songs with a major tonality are organised around the central note, do.
- We can add a drone to accompany folk songs.
Keywords
Tonality - the organisation of notes around a central note, the tonic, which helps to shape the music’s sound and character
Melodic shape - up and down movement of pitches in music
Major pentachord - the first five notes of the major scale: do, re, mi, fa, so
Solfège - a system of naming pitches so we can recognise patterns by ear, e.g. so mi do
Drone - a constant, pitched sound that continues throughout a piece of music
Common misconception
All major songs are happy. All minor songs are sad.
This is an oversimplification. All of the musical elements work together to create the character or mood of a piece of music. The context in which a piece is heard will also impact our emotional response to it.
Teacher tip
Pupils can work in pairs (or larger groups), with one pupil singing and playing the first beat on claves or a drum whilst the second pupil plays the drone on pitched percussion.
Equipment
Pitched percussion, notes F and C, e.g. percussion tubes, chime bars, glockenspiels, hand bells or xylophones.
Licence
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