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Year 7 - Music

Playing the melody: Ode to Joy

Keyboard fundamentals

Unit Summary

This unit introduces pupils to the keyboard, providing them with a functional understanding to explore sound and apply musical concepts. They learn to perform short melodies, how to find and play in the C position and how to identify middle C to G on the stave through performance.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to play the first two phrases of Ode to Joy.

Key Notes

  • Melodies are made up of phrases. The phrases in Ode to Joy are four bars long.
  • A crotchet is a one beat note and a minim is a two beat note.
  • Playing the first two phrases of Ode to Joy on the keyboard.
  • An emphasis on the first beat of a bar and playing the last bar slighly quieter can help to create a well-shaped phrase.
  • Ode to Joy is a melody by German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Bar: A bar of music is a short beat cycle. A bar is often 2, 3, or 4 beats long.
  • Phrase: A phrase is a section of a melody. A phrase is often 2 or 4 bars long.
  • Rhythm: A rhythm is a selection of long and short note durations in a pattern. All melodies have a rhythm.
  • Crotchet: A crotchet is a note lasting for one beat.
  • Minim: A minim is a note lasting for two beats.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Overdoing the emphasis on the first note of the bar and the music becoming stilted.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Melodies are made up of phrases. The phrases in Ode to Joy are four bars long. A crotchet is a one beat note and a minim is a two beat note.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Bar'

A bar of music is a short beat cycle. A bar is often 2, 3, or 4 beats long.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Overdoing the emphasis on the first note of the bar and the music becoming stilted. Correction: Play the pupils a non-example where the first beat is so strong it becomes unmusical and follow this with a good example.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 7 Music guide library.