Lesson 1: Introduction to staff notation

Introducing the basic features of staff notation and music from South Africa

Learning objective

  • To identify the basic key features of staff notation

National curriculum

Pupils should be taught to:

  • Use and understand staff and other notations
  • Develop an understanding of the history of music
  • Appreciate and understand a range of high quality (live) and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians
  • Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts (using their voices and) playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression

Success criteria

Cross-curricular links

Before the lesson

Download classroom resources

Attention grabber

Main event

Differentiation

Pupils needing extra support: Should use the vocabulary box (word bank) on the quiz sheet in the Activity: Staff notation quiz – with word bank version to help complete the labelling task. Answers to the ‘complete the sentences’ task could be rehearsed with a partner.

 

Pupils working at greater depth: Can be challenged to complete the empty bars on the quiz sheet with rhythms that add up to four (assuming that they are at greater depth because they already know how to read music).

Wrapping up

Assessing pupils' progression and understanding

Vocabulary

Created by:
Elizabeth Stafford,  
Music specialist
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…
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