Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 10
- OCR
The concerto in the Classical period
I can identify key features of the Classical concerto and compose an idiomatic cadenza.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 10
- OCR
The concerto in the Classical period
I can identify key features of the Classical concerto and compose an idiomatic cadenza.
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
- The Classical concerto uses a larger orchestra than Baroque, with no continuo and a broader range of solo instruments.
- The first movement typically uses sonata form - exposition, development and recapitulation.
- The texture is usually melody and accompaniment, with a melody based on balanced phrasing.
- Cadenzas are an opportunity for soloists to show off their technical skill, with virtuosic playing in a free tempo.
Keywords
Cadenza - a solo section in a concerto in which the soloist plays in a virtuosic manner
Sonata form - a common structure for a piece, based on an exposition, development and recapitulation
Balanced phrasing - where phrases are an equal length and create symmetry; they are often in ‘question and answer’ form
Melody and accompaniment - (or melody dominated homophony) is a texture in which there is a single clear melody with separate accompaniment
Common misconception
Cadenzas are always composed.
Many cadenzas are composed, but it is common for soloists to improvise (or slightly change) cadenzas to make them more unique and to further show off their own skill.
To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: The concerto in the Classical period, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: The concerto in the Classical period, 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 The concerto through time unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Personal instrument, keyboard, DAW or notation software.
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