People Who Help Us Level: Key Stage 1 - Creative music

Sounds Funny! (children's choice of elements that contribute to musical character)

How can we make music sound funny? The children could first listen to this piece of music, played on the piano, and put hands up to give their opinion on these points:

• Is it happy, funny or sad music?
• What makes it sound happy, funny or sad?
• Does the character change at any place in the music?

The title is Mr Happy Go Lucky and the music was composed by Sandre. I think most children will agree that it's either happy or funny music but accept any sensible, alternative viewpoints as being valid. Things that might be noticed in this music:

• The short, 'spiky' notes
• The quick tempo
• The change in the middle section to being a bit more serious
• The return to the jolly tune for the last part of the music.

Make Up Funny Music

Here's a chance for the children to make up some silly sounds. Tell them that their mission today is to invent music that makes you laugh. Depending on the children's experience they could ideally work in small groups, choosing and mixing the sounds from any source they wish (instruments, found sounds, body sounds, vocal sounds). It's a challenging task and working in groups has its own demands so supervision is essential, to ensure that no child dominates and no child gets left out.

This picture is one of my favorites. It's by Ben White on Unsplash.