Lesson 3: Using a thinking voice
Internalising the pulse when listening to music.
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Learning objective
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Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Seat children in a circle and play the link: Can't Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake. Play the audio only for up to thirty seconds.
Ask the pupils to move along to the pulse using any body movements (such as tapping knees, nodding heads, swaying from side to side).
Pause the music and explain that the next time the song stops, the children should keep showing the pulse with their bodies. Model this if needed. Play the music again. Pause and praise the children who can retain the pulse in time with the music after the music stops.
The aim is for the children to keep the pulse without counting aloud or making sounds but to feel it within their bodies.
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After a brief spell as an opera singer, Liz embarked on a 20-year career in music education, teaching at early years, primary and secondary. After Liz had her daughter, she started her own business Music Education Solutions® Limited, helping teachers across the UK deliver music with confidence. Liz teaches Foundation Stage and KS1 music in a primary school, and is also Programme Leader for the largest Level 4 Certificate for Music Educators centre in the world! She is Editor of Primary Music Magazine, a writer for Music Teacher Magazine, and a reviewer for the British Journal of Music Education.
Elizabeth has created lesson plans and resources for a wide range of Music topics including KS2 projects on musical theatre and lessons to encourage pupils to create musical compositions to represent Holi.
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