Changing Musical Instruments

Overview

This 10-minute session introduces Year 1 students to the concept of how musical instruments have changed over time, aiming to develop their auditory discrimination, historical curiosity, and vocabulary in line with the National Curriculum for Music (England).

National Curriculum References

Key Stage 1 - Years 1 & 2

Playing and performing: "Play tuned and untuned instruments musically."
Listening and appraising: "Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music."
Musical knowledge: "Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music."

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

Recognise basic differences between old and modern musical instruments.
Listen carefully to sounds from both types of instruments, identifying changes in sound quality.
Use simple vocabulary to describe what makes an instrument old or new (e.g., material, size, shape).
Develop curiosity about how instruments have evolved over time.

Resources Needed

Pictures or real examples of a traditional instrument (e.g., a wooden recorder or a drum made from natural materials) and its modern equivalent (e.g., plastic recorder, modern drum kit).
Audio samples (or live demonstration) of sounds from traditional and modern instruments.
Large picture cards or a “timeline” poster showing very simplified progression (e.g., “Old drum → New drum”).
Boxes or baskets labelled “Old” and “New” for a sorting activity.

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (2 minutes)

Engage: Show two instruments (or pictures): an old-style flute/recorder and a new plastic recorder. Ask, “Which one do you think is old? Which is new? How can we tell?”
Explain briefly: “Long ago, instruments were made from different materials. Now, we have tools and new materials to make them.”

2. Listening and Comparing (3 minutes)

Play or demonstrate the sound of the old instrument first, then the modern one.
Ask: “What do you notice about the sounds? Is one louder or softer? Different or the same?”
Encourage pupils to clap or tap along to the rhythm they hear, practising listening skills and pulse recognition.

3. Sorting Activity (3 minutes)

Show the picture cards or real instruments.
Pupils place cards or objects in the correct box: “Old” or “New.”
As they do so, encourage them to say something about the instrument that helps them decide (e.g., “The old one is made of wood.”).

4. Wrap-Up & Reflection (2 minutes)

Ask pupils what surprised them about old and new instruments.
Reinforce the vocabulary: old, new, wooden, plastic, louder, softer.
Encourage pupils to think about how instruments might change in the future.

Assessment

Formative: Observe pupils listening carefully and participating in sorting; listen to their use of vocabulary to describe differences.
Oral Feedback: Ask questions during activities to assess understanding (e.g., “Why do you think this instrument is old?”).
Self-Assessment: Encourage pupils to share one thing they learnt about instruments changing.

Extension Idea (for teachers to try later)

Create a ‘Musical Time Machine’ role-play corner where pupils pretend to visit the past and present, playing with simple instrument replicas or sound-making toys.

Rationale

This lesson aligns with the statutory National Curriculum requirements for Year 1 Music by focusing on auditory discrimination, musical vocabulary, and experiential learning. The hands-on sorting and listening activities support early cognitive connections to the history and evolution of musical instruments in an age-appropriate, engaging way.

Teaching Instructions