Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 8
Learning the middle section of Fur Elise
I can play an extended phrase of a melody which uses the black notes and moves out of position.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 8
Learning the middle section of Fur Elise
I can play an extended phrase of a melody which uses the black notes and moves out of position.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Using carefully chosen dynamics, rubato and emphasising the first beat of the bar can add expression to a performance
- Finding patterns in music can help in learning it more quickly
- The Fur Elise melody is in an ABA structure and the middle section uses a descending sequence
- Playing the middle section of Fur Elise in a legato style
Keywords
Legato - when the movement between each note is smooth
ABA structure - a musical structure with three sections, where the first and last section are the same and the middle section is different
Sequence - a short melodic idea that is repeated in steps either rising or falling
Rubato - a slight speeding up and slowing down of the tempo to show expression
Common misconception
The more rubato you use the more expressive the performance
Rubato affects the tempo and pulse of a piece so needs to be used with subtlety. Show various examples of how Fur Elise might be played by different performers so pupils can see the variety of ways rubato can be used.
To help you plan your year 8 music lesson on: Learning the middle section of Fur Elise, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 music lesson on: Learning the middle section of Fur Elise, 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.
Explore more key stage 3 music lessons from the Minor, major and developing keyboard skills unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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