Pitch Year 4 Notations - Fred, Fred

Embark on a musical adventure with "Fred, Fred," an engaging game designed for Year 4 students to enhance their sense of rhythm and pitch. In this activity, children gather in a circle or line and perform a simple body percussion pattern by tapping their knees and clapping their hands, maintaining a steady pulse throughout the game. As they do this, they take turns to creatively think of various foods that the character Fred could buy, substituting these for the word 'biscuits' in the song's lyrics. This playful exercise not only reinforces the So Mi interval in the children's aural skills but also encourages them to keep a consistent beat.

The game "Fred, Fred" can be enriched by incorporating solfa singing with hand signs, allowing children to explore melody in a tactile and visual manner. After singing the melodic parts, they chant the phrase "the bread was gone" and continue the game by selecting alternative food items. To further enhance the musical experience, tuned instruments such as chime bars or xylophones can be used. Children are encouraged to internalise the words and play the melody on the instruments, speaking aloud only when it's their turn to decide on Fred's next purchase. This interactive game not only makes learning music fun but also develops important musical skills in a group setting.