Playing expressively: Ode to Joy
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can play the full melody of Ode to Joy.
Key learning points
- A quaver is a half beat note. These often come in pairs.
- Playing the third phrase of Ode to Joy which uses paired quavers.
- Phrases give structure to the melody and often use repetition. Spotting the patterns can make the music easier to learn.
- The pulse is the steady feel of the beats within the music. Feeling the pulse is fundamental to good music making.
- Dynamics (volume) and tempo (speed) can play an important role in expressive musical performance.
Keywords
Quaver - A quaver is a note lasting half a beat. Quavers often come in pairs.
Pulse - The pulse is the steady feel of the beat.
Score - A score is a visual representation of the music you are hearing.
Common misconception
Rhythm and pulse in music are the same thing (particularly as there are a lot of crotchets used).
Pupils could clap/tap the beat with the audio examples to reinforce how it is different to the rhythm of the melody..
Teacher tip
Expression is subjective. The approach here is to help pupils find a starting point. Pupils could be encouraged to find another suitable approach to expression in this piece.
Equipment
Keyboards
Licence
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