Unit 4: Indonesia (Instrumental lessons)

Discovering the features of gamelan music including the Slendro scale and cyclical rhythmic patterns, identifying traditional gamelan instruments, learning about the concept of an octave, exploring how different timbres are used in gamelan music

Choose your lesson

Lesson 1: Review of learning

Recapping the skills and knowledge acquired over the course of the previous units in the instrumental scheme and performing the tuned percussion parts for the associated songs learned.

Learning Objective

To recall and describe key features of known musical genres

Lesson 2: Gamelan music

Learning the features of gamelan music, including the Slendro scale and cyclical rhythmic patterns, recognising and accurately naming traditional gamelan instruments

Learning Objective

To understand the key features of gamelan music

Lesson 3: Exploring octaves

Learning what an octave is and identifying the same note at different octaves on an instrument and on staff notation.

Learning Objective

To understand the concept of an octave

Lesson 4: Cyclic patterns

Learning about the cyclical structure of gamelan music, identifying octaves through a listening activity and creating a melody to play along to the main tune 'Blue sky'

Learning Objective

To explore how cyclic patterns are used in gamelan music

Lesson 5: Finishing touches

Exploring the concept of 'timbre' and adding different timbres to the gamelan-inspired piece ‘Blue sky’ before performing it

Learning Objective

To explore how different timbres can be combined to create an effect in gamelan music

Assess your pupils

Assessment resources for use at the start of the unit to assess where pupils are in their learning and at the end of the unit to assess progress. Go to assessment resources
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