Discovering Classical Instruments

Lesson Overview

• Duration: 40 minutes
• Age Group: 8-9 years (Year 4)
• Class Size: 27 students
• Strand: Exploring and creating music
• Strand Units:
  • Listening and responding
  • Performing
  • Composing

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Identify and describe at least five classical musical instruments from the Viennese Musical Clock.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of how different instruments contribute to the overall sound of the piece.
3. Engage in a listening activity demonstrating their ability to distinguish between different timbres and dynamics.
4. Participate in a group bingo game to reinforce their knowledge of musical instruments.

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Required Resources

• Audio Equipment: Speakers or headphones
• Listening Material: Audio recording of the Viennese Musical Clock
• Visual Aids: Pictures of classical musical instruments (e.g., violin, flute, timpani, harp, clarinet)
• Bingo Cards: Custom bingo cards featuring classical instruments
• Markers: Dry-erase markers or counters for bingo
• Whiteboard and Markers

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UK Curriculum Framework Alignment

The lesson aligns with the Music National Curriculum for England, especially the following areas:

• Performing: Pupils should be taught to play tuned and unturned instruments musically.
• Composing: Pupils should experiment with, create, select, and combine sounds to compose music.
• Listening and Appraising: Pupils should listen to a wide range of music and develop an understanding of musical contexts.

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Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Welcome and Set the Scene

   • Greet the students and introduce the topic of classical music.
   • Briefly discuss what classical music is and mention the Viennese Musical Clock as a significant piece.

2. Activate Prior Knowledge

   • Ask students if they have heard classical music before or can name any instruments.
   • Write student responses on the whiteboard.

3. Introduce Learning Objectives

   • Clearly state the objectives of the lesson and what they will be doing today.

Listening Activity (15 minutes)

1. Play the Viennese Musical Clock

   • Play the audio recording of the piece.
   • Instruct students to listen carefully and pay attention to the different sounds and instruments used.

2. Guided Listening

   • After the first listening, ask guided questions:
     • What different sounds did you hear?
     • Which instruments do you think are playing?
   • Provide hints and allow students to share their observations.

3. Visual Aids Discussion

   • Show pictures of the instruments discussed.
   • Briefly explain how each instrument produces sound and their role in the context of the piece.

Learning Check (5 minutes)

1. Instrument Identification
   • Have a short class discussion where students can volunteer to name the instruments they identified.
   • Facilitate a few minutes for students to describe how a specific instrument sounds.

Bingo Activity (10 minutes)

1. Set Up Bingo

   • Distribute bingo cards featuring images or names of musical instruments.
   • Explain the rules of the game:
     • Describe an instrument without naming it, and students will find the corresponding image on their cards.

2. Conduct the Game

   • Randomly select and describe each instrument.
   • Allow students to mark their cards. The first to complete a row shouts 'Bingo!'

3. Wrap Up

   • Upon winner announcement, congratulate and encourage them to share their thoughts about the identified instruments.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Recap Learning Points

   • Reinforce the instruments learned and their roles.
   • Engage students in a short dialogue about how they felt listening to the Viennese Musical Clock.

2. Feedback and Reflection

   • Ask students what their favourite part of the lesson was and why.
   • Encourage them to share any previous experiences with classical music.

3. Homework Assignment (optional)

   • Invite students to listen to another piece of classical music at home, identifying any instruments they recognize.

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Assessment Strategies

• Formative Assessment: Observe students’ participation in discussions and identify instruments correctly during the bingo game.
• Peer Assessment: Encourage students to share their findings and observations with each other during the lesson.

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Reflection

At the end of the lesson, reflect on what worked well, any challenges faced, and areas for improvement for future lessons. Consider whether students met the learning objectives and how to better engage them in subsequent lessons.

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By emphasising active listening, instrument recognition, and collaboration, this comprehensive lesson plan will captivate students and deepen their appreciation of classical music and the instruments that create its beautiful sounds.