Instrumental - Year 5 Lesson 5

In the fifth instrumental lesson for Year 5, the pupils are encouraged to develop their rhythmic skills through a variety of engaging activities. The learning objectives set out for this session include playing rhythm patterns from notation and by ear, achieving rhythmic accuracy on un-tuned instruments, leading a group, practising and performing in groups, and appraising performances. The key vocabulary for this lesson includes pulse, rhythm, and internalise, terms which are essential for understanding the structure and flow of music.

The main activities of the lesson involve using claves or similar tap-able instruments to master rhythm patterns. The children are introduced to rhythm flashcards and guided through a five-step process that involves saying rhythm names, clapping, and eventually playing the rhythms on their instruments. A game called 'Follow the Pattern of the Drum' helps reinforce 4-beat patterns, with the children clapping and tapping to different beats, and later playing these patterns on their instruments. As an extension, some children may lead with more complex 8-beat patterns, and those with exceptional musical ability can explore syncopated and complex rhythms. The lesson culminates in group performances where each child gets a chance to lead, followed by an appraisal of their rhythmic accuracy and group coordination. A plenary activity has the class sing 'Goodbye Everyone' with instruments, syncing their playing with the song's pulse. The lesson is designed to fulfil National Curriculum requirements in music, focusing on playing instruments with accuracy, listening attentively, understanding notation, and performing in an ensemble context.