Playing a melody in the C position on the keyboard
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify the notes C to G on the keyboard and perform a melody in the C position.
Key learning points
- On the keyboard, the C is to the left of the two black keys.
- The C position is when you place your thumb on C and other fingers on the adjacent notes allowing for more control.
- Recognising C, D, E, F and G on the stave.
- C on the stave is distinctive as it sits under the stave and has its own line.
- Practising slowly at first allows time for more accuracy.
Keywords
C position - A hand position when playing the keyboard. The most important features is having your thumb on C.
Melody - The main tune or recognisable part in a piece of music.
Stave - A set of five lines used in music to show different notes.
Common misconception
Mistaking F (or another note) for C and not understanding the impact this has on the finger prompts.
Reinforce 'C to the left of the two black keys', why F is a common mistake and the finger prompts only work if the C position is correct.
Teacher tip
It is expected that pupils may prefer to follow the finger prompts, but notation has been introduced briefly to provide a starting point as required. This may well require more focus and time if pupils want to read from this alone.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does pitch mean?
Q2.What has changed if a piece of music starts slowly and gets faster?
Q3.What is the musical term for volume?
Q4.Which of the following best describes performing to a pulse?
Q5.Which of the following is another term for tune?
Q6.A is a selection of long and short note durations put together in a pattern
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How do we find C on the keyboard?
Q2.Which of these is the C position?
Q3.The set of five lines and four spaces on which musical notes are written is called the .
Q4.When you sing happy birthday the part you are singing is called the .
Q5.Which note has its own line and sits just underneath the stave?
Q6.Name the black note pictured on the stave.
To help you plan your 7 music lesson on: Playing a melody in the C position on the keyboard, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 music lesson on: Playing a melody in the C position on the keyboard, 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 3 music lessons from the Keyboard fundamentals unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.