Instruments
Children learn how events, actions and feelings within stories can be represented by pitch, dynamics and tempo.
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Instruments (Theme: Musical storytelling)
Please note
This unit helps the children learn how events, actions and feelings within stories can be represented by pitch, dynamics and tempo. This unit replaces the Year 2 unit Orchestral instruments (Theme: Traditional Western stories), which is permanently available in our archive but is no longer updated in line with curriculum or website developments.
For the most up-to-date information about our music scheme, please refer to the document Music: Long-term plan.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify sections of the music where the tempo changes.
- Correctly describe sections of music as fast or slow.
- Point out moments in the music where the dynamics change.
- Accurately describe dynamic changes as soft or loud.
- Give specific examples of how the music corresponds to actions in the story.
- Provide clear and specific examples of how music supports the story.
- Justify tempo and dynamic choices made to represent a character, event or feeling.
- Suggest appropriate musical dynamics and tempo changes for different scenes of the story.
- Work as part of a group to rehearse a performance.
- Perform confidently using appropriate instrumental sounds.
- Play their part at appropriate tempo and dynamics.
Suggested prior learning
Lessons
Lesson 1: Listening for dynamics and tempo
- To explore listening and analysing a piece of music in relation to a story.
Lesson 2: Sound effects and dynamics
- To explore how music and sound effects can tell a story.
Lesson 3: Creating a soundscape
- To select appropriate sounds to match events, characters and feelings in a story.
Lesson 4: Using sound to represent events
- To suggest appropriate sounds to represent parts of a story.
Lesson 5: Musical story performance
- To perform a composition showing changes in tempo and dynamics.
Key skills
Key knowledge
Related content
Unit resources
Cross-curricular opportunities
English
Reading – comprehension.