Hello, educators! In this pBuzz Primary Resources video overview, we're venturing into the medieval realm of Castles to explore the intriguing world of musical structure.
This video guide from pBuzz pro Susie Riddell talks through this topic, the first episode in year two of the pBuzz Primary Resources. This scheme of work covers two years of music learning for children aged between 5 and 7 years old. The resources featured have been created to cover the entire National Curriculum for Music at Key Stage 1 in England and Wales, but educators from across the world can use the included tracks, music, and teaching tips. Best of all? It's completely free!
This guide gives you insight into what to expect on this topic about teaching musical structure to kids. It will help you deliver pBuzz learning in the whole-class environment, even if you're not a brass player or trained musician.
Before we raise the drawbridge, be sure to take a peek at the planning documents for this topic.
In the grand castle of music, the structure is akin to the architecture – it's how the music is built. A song can have several sections, each with its own role. With our young learners, we'll delve into sections like the introduction, verse, chorus, interlude, and coda. Let's demystify these terms:
- Introduction: The opening act of a musical piece, setting the stage for what's to come.
- Interlude: An instrumental break amidst the song.
- Coda: The concluding section, wrapping up the musical narrative.
- Verse and Chorus: The verse changes words but keeps the tune, while the chorus remains constant in both melody and lyrics.
Lesson-by-Lesson Breakdown: From Fanfares to Structure Recognition
1. Creating Patterns: Kick off with a tambour part, a simple repeated pattern, and learn the fanfare section. Start with singing the notes, then finding them on the pBuzz, and finally playing them.
2. Fanfare Performance: Challenge pupils to perform the fanfare in three parts, including a new tambourine part. This exercise caters to varied skill levels, ensuring everyone can participate.
3. Fanfare Creation: Now, it's time for pupils to compose their fanfares, using a structured format. This might be challenging for some, so providing note patterns for rearrangement can be a big help.
4. Recognising Song Sections: Focus on identifying different sections of a song and ordering them correctly. This activity not only reinforces the concept of structure but also provides tangible evidence for assessment.
5. Consolidation Challenge: The final lesson tests if pupils can play along with the backing track sans guide. Remember, perfection isn't the goal here – it's understanding and applying musical structure.
As we conclude our journey through the Castles topic, remember we're not just teaching notes and tunes; we're instilling a deeper understanding of how music is constructed. Encourage your pupils to embrace each lesson as a step towards building their musical castle, one section at a time.