Pitch Lesson Plan - Year 4 Lesson 1

The initial lesson in the Year 4 Pitch series is designed to engage students with their vocal abilities and introduce them to the fundamental musical concepts of pitch and intervals, specifically focusing on the So-Mi interval. The lesson's objectives are to experiment with various vocal techniques, recognize and sing the So-Mi interval, learn the solfa names and corresponding hand signs for So and Mi, and read simple notated rhythm and pitch patterns that include the notes Bb, A, G and the solfa names So and Mi. Key vocabulary for the lesson includes the terms So, Mi, pitch, and interval. Resources required for the lesson involve a whiteboard and pen, along with optional stave notation sheets.

Main activities of the lesson include teaching the chant 'WHEN I CLIMB', which helps students transition from speaking to singing voices while also revising the concept of high and low notes. The children will also engage in the 'FRED, FRED' game, which reinforces the use of the So and Mi notes. Introducing the characters SOPHIE (So) and MIKHAIL (Mi) with accompanying hand signs and stories helps children remember the pitch of the notes and associate them with rhythm patterns. The lesson progresses to singing So-Mi patterns with hand signs, silent singing patterns, and reading S-Mi rhythm and pitch patterns. Additionally, children are encouraged to compose and perform their own 4-beat pitch and rhythm patterns. For those interested in stave notation, worksheets are provided to practice writing pitch and rhythm notation on the stave. The plenary activity includes singing 'GOODBYE EVERYONE' while playing pulse on tuned instruments, incorporating the notes G and E. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum, covering aspects such as exploring pitch and duration, singing in groups, listening and recalling sounds, understanding musical notation, composing music, and performing solo.