Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 11
- AQA
Tonality and intervals
I can describe and identify the different types of tonality, and can identify intervals in context.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 11
- AQA
Tonality and intervals
I can describe and identify the different types of tonality, and can identify intervals in context.
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
- Tonality determines the notes that are used in a piece of music.
- Lots of Western music is diatonic or chromatic, while many traditional styles around the world are modal.
- Atonal music has no key and microtonal music uses notes from in between the semitones.
- Identifying intervals allows musicians to work out musical ideas by ear.
- The simplest way to do this is by comparing intervals to reference songs.
Keywords
Diatonic - music which uses only notes that are based in the key (e.g. C major or F minor)
Atonal - music which has no key or tonic note
Modal - music based on modes, which are a type of scale different from major/minor scales
Chromatic - music that uses notes from outside of the keys
Microtonal - music which includes notes between the 12 Western semitones; these small intervals are called microtones
Common misconception
If music has a key, it must be diatonic.
Not necessarily. A piece of music can have a key, but use notes from outside of it. This would be chromatic. It could also have a key, but use some microtones as well, meaning it is microtonal.
To help you plan your year 11 music lesson on: Tonality and intervals, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 music lesson on: Tonality and intervals, 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 4 music lessons from the Understanding melody and harmony unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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