Musicroom is dedicated to helping you provide your child with a rich and rounded education, even during school closures. Every week we’ll be providing free outstanding, fun and rewarding music lessons for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 that can be taught at home. Simple to use and no musical expertise is required!
This week, from Rhinegold Education, a Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) lesson about writing song lyrics, and a Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) lesson that discovers Film Music!
Key Stage 1
Learning objective: to be able to count the beat. To differentiated between beats in a bar. To begin lyric writing for songs.
Length: ½ hour
1. This is a little warm-up to get you used to playing to a steady beat.
2. Listen to the next audio. Try the different actions along with the beat.
Use the same action on the first three beats and a different one on the fourth beat.
3. We’re going to play a game!
Join in and have fun with the next audio.
Play the game using different categories such as colours, sports, film characters, or any other special interest your child may have. They need to be able to fit the word into that fourth beat, whether it has one syllable or several. This will help them with the following task.
4. Here is a song, all about a grumpy pirate!
Sing along to the song. Listen as many times as you need to, in order to become familiar with the tune.
5. Now invent your own words for the tune.
- Come up with a character (little sister, angry ogre, silly princess. . .)
- . . .and a list of punishments for this person. Choose your favourite three punishments!
Here is the piano part. Sing your new lyrics along to it.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have just composed your own lyrics!
Key Stage 2
Learning objective: to learn about how music impacts on the interpretation of images in films. To manipulate the meaning of an image through its musical setting.
Length: ½ hour
Parental Notice. This lesson involves using the internet. Please guide and monitor your child responsibly throughout the entire lesson to ensure appropriate and safe usage.
1. Here is a clip all about the power of film music. Watch it together.
Notice to Parents, Guardians, and Teachers. The content of this video is age appropriate. However, it does demonstrate how music is able to make films scarier. Watch this in advance of delivering the lesson. If you find it to be unsuitable for your child, skip ahead to the next task.
2. Watch the first 30 seconds of the following clip.
This is from the film The Lion King but it has no music! It’s your challenge to find music to suit the film.
Decide on the mood you’d like for your version of the film. With a grown-up, type this into your search engine (e.g., “Happy music”). Try playing a few different tracks along with the film clip. Experiment with a different mood. Play your favourite three versions to a member of your family, and ask them how it affects what they think of the film.
If you’d like to listen to other options, play the rest of the clip and decide which version you like best and why.
3. Films are a great way to learn about music.
The Disney Frozen Music Activity Book published by Hal Leonard is the ideal introduction to music for all beginners. It’s also packed full of your favourite songs from Frozen and Frozen 2. Check out a sample of some of the exercises below, and you can purchase the book here.
Frozen Book Sample
Written by Rebecca White