Here at the Mobile Music School, we understand that some primary school teachers may not be comfortable teaching music or following the Irish Primary School Music Curriculum. That’s why we have compiled a set of complimentary lesson plans and music resources to help out! This set of easy to follow lesson plans has been designed for primary school teachers, helping them to teach music in the classroom, and are all based on the Irish Primary School Music Curriculum. Each resource has a theme, or story, and the teacher guides the class through the story, asking students questions along the way. These skills are intended to be developed over the eight weeks, so don’t be disheartened if the children don’t fully grasp the concepts straight away!
For this week’s lesson, we will focus on Exploring and Learning Rhythms.
Aims and Objectives
1 – Enhanced understanding of rhythmic patterns
2 – Increased musical awareness
3 – Greater ability to listen and work in a group environment
4 – Improved performance skills
Resources
Percussion Instruments if available
Activity 1
Explain that when people are learning instruments, they use different words and rhymes to help learn & remember how the music goes.
‘Have a listen to the words & rhymes that I am going to say….’
They are played the way they would be said aloud i.e taking a syllable for a sound. Play your instrument for each syllable.
Rhythm no 1: Where’s the Sun Where’s the Sun (the rhythm sounds like the syllables of ti-ti TA ti-ti TA, clapping or playing on each syllable.)
Teacher: Say this out loud. Get class to say it out loud (forte), then softly (piano) & get them to stamp the sounds on the floor as a group.
Teacher: Demonstrate how that rhythm sounds on a percussion instrument and explain that we have to match the sounds with what we play. After tutor says ‘1,2 HERE WE GO’, get them to play the rhythm on their instrument.
Rhythm no 2: ‘I’m having lots of fun’ (the rhythm sounds like the syllables of TA ti-ti ti-ti TA).
Same teaching & learning method as rhythm 1.
Rhythm no 3: Hi Hi LoLa Hi Hi Lo (ti-ti ti-ti ti-ti TA).
Same teaching & learning method as rhythm 1.
Rhythm no 4: Let’s make lots of noise (TA TA ti-ti TA).
Same teaching & learning method as rhythm 1.
Activity 2
Divide the class into four groups
Teacher: Divide the class into four evenly sized groups and assign each group with a rhythm from above. Give each group a chance to practice their rhythm by letting each group perform by themselves and then move onto the next group until each group has gotten a turn and are able to perform their rhythm accurately and in
unison with one another.
Activity 3
Teacher: After each group can perform their rhythm accurately and in-time, ask them all to start together, after you say READY STEADY HERE WE GO
Encourage each team to perform their rhythm and not to copy the rhythm of the group that is beside them.
Keywords – BEAT, RHYTHM, UNISON
Strands – Listen & Responding, Performing
Part Six: Rock Music coming soon….
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