Lesson 4: Tuned and untuned instruments

Experimenting with playing tuned and untuned instruments, children then play along and sing in time to familiar songs, changing the tempo (speed) or dynamic (volume) each time

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  6. Lesson 4: Tuned and untuned instruments

Before the lesson

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Learning objectives

  • To experiment with playing tuned and untuned instruments
  • To play in time to familiar songs

EYFS outcomes

Expressive arts and design 

Exploring and using media and materials

  • Explore, use and refine a variety of artistic effects to express their ideas and feelings.
  • Sing in a group or on their own, increasingly matching the pitch and following the melody.  
  • Explore and engage in music making and dance, performing solo or in groups.
  • ELG: Being imaginative and expressive: Perform songs, rhymes, poems and stories with others, and – when appropriate – try to move in time with music. 

Characteristics of Effective Learning

  • Playing and exploring
  • Active learning

Outcomes taken from Development Matters, 2021.

ELGs taken from the Statutory framework for the EYFS, 2021.

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Activity

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Key vocabulary

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Prompts for learning

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Observations

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Teacher notes

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Next steps

To choose appropriate instruments to represent different parts of a song. 

To perform a practised song to a small audience. 

Note any specific next steps for individual children.

In this topic

Created by:
Sophie Pickles,  
Computing specialist
Sophie is an expert Early Years consultant. She has spent many years both teaching in Reception and leading, in her role of Head of Early Years and senior manager at an outstanding-rated, child-led setting. Sophie now works with many national educational…
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