Instrumental - Year 4 Activity Sheet 1

Year 4 students are encouraged to explore the fundamentals of music through "Activity Sheet 1," which is structured to progressively build their rhythmic skills. The activity sheet outlines a series of seven activities that students should complete in sequence, ensuring mastery of each step before advancing to the next. The first task involves singing a tune while simultaneously tapping the steady pulse on their knees, helping students to differentiate between the pulse and the rhythm of the song. Following this, they are asked to sing again, but this time clapping the rhythm, which is the pattern of long and short sounds within the song.

As the students progress, they move on to internalising the words by thinking them silently while clapping the rhythm, enhancing their cognitive connection with the music. This prepares them for the fourth activity, where they transfer their clapping into playing the rhythm on musical instruments. In the fifth activity, the class is divided, with half of the students playing the pulse on their instruments and the other half playing the rhythm, all while using 'thinking voices' to mentally rehearse the song. The sixth task involves singing and playing an ostinato—a short, repeated musical phrase—reinforcing the concept of repetition in music. For those ready for a further challenge, the extension activity invites students to get creative and compose their own ostinato. These activities are part of a structured lesson plan intended to accompany "Active Music Year 4 Lesson 3" from the Primary Music Specialist website.