Rhythm and Pulse - KS2 - Teacher Notes

The comprehensive teaching notes for Key Stage 2 Rhythm & Pulse provide a structured approach to enhance children's musical abilities, particularly in maintaining a steady pulse and developing rhythm skills. These plans consist of an array of activities and singing games that should be integrated consistently throughout the year to reinforce learning, with repetition being a key aspect of the teaching strategy. The accompanying DVD offers additional exercises tailored to the children's musical progression. The concept of pulse is likened to a regular heartbeat within a piece of music, which may vary in speed but retains its regularity. Children are encouraged to engage in activities that involve keeping a steady pulse, including games and singing along to music while identifying and expressing the pulse through their own actions.

Rhythm is introduced as the pattern that follows the lyrics of a song, although it's acknowledged that this definition is simplified and not all music contains words. The lesson plans make use of rhythm names instead of traditional musical terms, assigning specific names to note values that reflect their duration, such as 'Ta' for a beat and 'Te-te' for a beat split into two. The method of teaching a song is broken down into steps, starting from listening to the song, echoing short phrases, and building up to singing the entire song with confidence. The notes also cover aspects of singing, conducting, performance, appraising, and the importance of dynamics and tempo. Furthermore, the foundation laid by these exercises prepares students for composing and improvising, with clear structures and examples provided to guide them. The document concludes with a glossary of musical terms to ensure clarity and understanding of the concepts taught.