Adapting and transposing motifs
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Adapting and transposing motifs (Theme: Romans)
Important update!
The licence for the song ‘The road building song’ (Out of the Ark) used in this unit expires at the end of July 2026. From September 2026, it will be replaced with an alternative song. Presentations, audio files and activity sheets will be updated accordingly. If you have previously downloaded these resources, please download the updated versions before teaching the unit. The musical progression of the unit will not be affected.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Learn a new song, singing in time and in tune while following the lyrics.
- Identify motifs aurally and play a repeated pattern on a tuned instrument.
- Create and performing a motif, notating it with reasonable accuracy.
- Transpose their motif, using sharp or flat notes where necessary and change the rhythm.
- Combine different versions of a musical motif and perform as a group using musical notation.
Suggested prior learning
Changes in pitch, tempo and dynamics (Theme: Rivers)
Get startedLessons
Lesson 1: Here come the Romans
- To sing in tune and in time.
Lesson 2: Musical motifs
- To understand what a musical motif is.
Lesson 3: Motifs and mosaics
- To compose and notate a motif.
Lesson 4: Motif development
- To develop and transpose a musical motif.
Lesson 5: Combine and perform
- To combine and perform different versions of a musical motif.
Key skills
Key knowledge
Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser: Music – Y4 Adapting and transposing motifs (Romans)
Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit "Year 4 Adapting and transposing…
Vocabulary display: Adapting and transposing motifs
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit Adapting and transposing motifs.
Cross-curricular opportunities
Nothing relevant in this unit.