This Music video introduces Year 4 pupils to the three-part story of the dragon dance through a colourful animation. Children watch the dragon sleep, chase the pearl and return to the village for a joyful celebration, preparing them to compose music that matches each part of the story.

The video supports pupils in exploring how music can tell a story by encouraging them to think about the dragon’s movements, feelings and energy in each scene. As they watch, children consider how musical features such as tempo, dynamics, melody, rhythm and instruments can help create different moods and represent the changing action. The animation provides the inspiration and visual guide for their own group compositions.

The animation encourages pupils to listen, observe and make creative musical choices before performing their own soundtrack alongside the story. By composing music to match the dragon’s journey, children develop their understanding of how music can create atmosphere, communicate emotion and enhance storytelling.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s Music videos, which support teachers in developing confidence and subject knowledge when helping children compose creatively and explore how music can communicate mood, movement and character.

See more of our Key Stage 2 scheme of work.

• Music, Year 4, Sounds of China: Scales and structure.
• Music, Year 4, Sounds of China: Scales and structure, Lesson 5: Composing dragon dance music.