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  3. Lower key stage 2 >
  4. Year 4 >
  5. Musical motifs: Reading the stave >
  6. Lesson 2: Reading the stave
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This is preview content for the 2026-27 academic year. Your feedback will help us improve these units.

Learning objective

  • To play short phrases by reading notes on the stave.

Success criteria

  • I can recognise notes on the stave.
  • I can
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National curriculum

Music

Pupils should be taught to:

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Cross-curricular links

British values

  • Mutual respect.

See

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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

Recap and recall

Show the Presentation: Order the notes.  Hand out whiteboards and pens (one between two) and ask pairs to write the notes in the correct order. Remind them to use the body part actions from Lesson 1: Notes on the stave and reveal the body part notes if needed.

Learning objective

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Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support:

  • Could play phrase 2 from the Activity: Playing independently, as it is simpler.
  • Could use a whiteboard pen to write the name of the notes on their instruments or put a dot on the notes C to G.

Pupils working at greater depth:

  • Should play phrase 4 from the Activity: Playing independently, as it is more complex.
  • Could sing along with the notes as they play.
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Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding can:

  • Recognise and read notes on the stave while
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Vocabulary definitions

  • note

    A musical symbol that represents a pitch.

  • stave

    Five lines where notes are placed to show their pitch.

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In this unit

Assessment - Music Y4: Musical motifs

Lesson 1: Notes on the stave

Lesson 2: Reading the stave

Lesson 3: What is a motif?

Lesson 4: Composing a motif

Lesson 5: Performing a motif

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Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 26th May, 2026

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Lesson 1: Notes on the stave Previous Lesson
Lesson 3: What is a motif? Next Lesson

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