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This slide can be used as a Do Now, as a Checking for understanding/ AfL check or as homework. Each slide has a question/ answers and you can use this resource in your classroom to ensure students grasp how to play and build chords and understand the concepts of major and minor. I use this in year 8 during the blues and the 4 chord song unit when harmony is the focus of learning.

Lesson 1 - Introduction to the concept of 4 chord songs. Performance: Year 8’s would know how to build a chord but they spend time recapping the skill and practice transitioning from C, to F, to G from the Blues Unit and and ensure they’re playing the 4 chord song chord progression accurately and fluently. There is emphasis on the correct technique, using fingers 1, 2 and 4 to play chords. Levels of challenge can be applied, from just holding the chords, adding a simple rhythms/ developing the rhythm beyond 1 beat/ 4 beat notes. Listening: The link to a school friendly version of Axis of Awesome is in the slides, you could extend this by finding more recent examples for students to relate to. Lesson 1 of 6, suitable for year 8 and 9 and very adaptable for your schools needs.

Lesson 2 - Develop students understanding of the concept of 4 chord songs. Performance: Year 8’s would know how to build a chord but they spend time recapping the 4 chord song chord progression accurately and fluently from last lesson. They’ll be then exploring bass clef and learning how to compose basslines using root notes and passing notes. There is emphasis on the correct technique, using fingers 1, 2 and 4 to play chords. Levels of challenge can be applied, from just holding the chords, adding a simple rhythms/ developing the rhythm beyond 1 beat/ 4 beat notes. Basslines could be developed into riffs. Lesson 2 of 6, suitable for year 8 and 9 and very adaptable for your schools needs

Lesson 1 - In this final lesson, students finish working on their ideas. They’re introduced to the effects used in modern music and experiment with them on SoundTrap/ your chosen DAW if possible. Students play their compositions aloud and receive feedback from other students based on the success criteria. Lesson 6 of 6, suitable for year 8 and 9 and very adaptable for your schools needs.

Lesson 4 - Developing a bass line Performance: Students develop their understanding of the DAW by adding a bassline and drum beat to their 4 chord composition. Lesson 4 of 6, suitable for year 8 and 9 and very adaptable for your schools needs.

Lesson 3 - Introduction to the concept of 4 chord songs. Performance: Recall the 4 chord pop song progression on keyboards, normalising performances to the class. Composition: Task is to compose their own 4 chord song on the DAW avaliable to you. I have used SoundTrap as a model but this can be adapted. Listening: Listening questions based on the song Wonderwall by Oasis. Link provided in the slides, questions are in the booklet. Lesson 3 of 6, suitable for year 8 and 9 and very adaptable for your schools needs

Lesson 5 - Introduction to the concept of 4 chord songs. Composition: Students develop their compositions strucutre, adding a riff and structure to their compositions. Lesson 5 of 6, suitable for year 8 and 9 and very adaptable for your schools needs.

Lesson 4: Reading Tab Students are introduced to tab as a form of notation and discuss how to read it and what might make reading tab challenging/ easy. Students have access to youtube videos/ paper resources and they practice a piece of music in pairs. Links to an independent youtube channel which I have no links to, they can be swapped out for other youtube videos if you have a preference. Task: Work in pairs to master a song, reading tab music and playing effectively as a small ensemble.

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Ukulele Students recall the chords that they have learnt, as a class / independently. Students learn about strumming patterns and how to apply them to compose interesting rhythms. Task: Compose a strumming pattern to play over the 4 chords they have learnt This could be scaffolded to be simple rhythms and 1 chord per bar to more complex strumming patterns and mid bar chord changes.

Lesson 2: Pop Chord Progression I V VI IV Students are recall key parts of the instrument and recall the 3 chords they learnt last lesson. This can be done as a class or paired. Recall is a great performance opportunity too. Students learn a new chord, G major to add to the 3 chords, (C, Am and F). You could model these as a whole class/ perform as a whole class or in smaller groups depending on the learning environment. Task: Learn a chord progression using 4 chords, working towards an class performance.

Lesson 6: Applying harmony on the keyboards Students demonstrate their understanding of harmony on the keyboards, learning a golden rule, play 1 miss 1 x3 and developing their keyboard skills further. Task: Apply harmony on the keyboard, learning a simple melody and applying chords that they have learnt in pairs/ with two hands.

Lesson 5: Performances Students demonstrate their understanding of the ukulele, chord charts/ tab by performing the song that they have been learning in pairs. They also focus on feedback, providing meaningful and relevant feedback for the performances. Task: Recall and master a song on ukulele, performing it to the class.

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Ukulele Students are introduced to the instrument, as a class model how to hold, strum and fret a chord to ensure a whole class understanding. Students learn 3 chords, C, Am and F. You could model these as a whole class/ perform as a whole class or in smaller groups depending on the learning environment. Task: Learn a chord progression using 3 chords, working towards an class performance.

Lesson 6 - Performing and feedback Students perform their compositions and provide feedback on what they hear. Using keywords such as fluency, accuracy, timing and development. Students reflect on their composition. Lesson 7 is also included, I often introduce the keyboards in a 7 week term and use simple 5 finger songs to engage students.

Lesson 5 - Applying the elements of music Students continue to apply the elements of music with intent and compose a piece of music that reflects the size, nature or movement of an animal.

Lesson 4 of 6 In this lesson, students use their understanding of the elements of music that they have studied so far to compose a short rhythmic piece of music that describes the size, nature or movement of an animal of their choice. They listen and appraise pieces from the Carnival of the Animals and discuss how the composer has described certain aspects of the animal so that they gain some ideas to apply to their own compositions. They then work in groups and begin to compose a short piece.

Year 7 Drumming Lesson 3 of 6 In lesson 3, students develop their ensemble skills and understanding of the elements of music by revisiting their work from lesson 1 and 2, where they composed a section A with a call and response, and develop it by applying dynamics to either a section they already have, or by composing a section B with contrasting dynamics. Hearing the dynamic changes and talking about how it impacts the listener will encourage students to analyse their compositions and provide feedback to others.

Year 7 Drumming Unit: Lesson 2 of 6 In this lesson, students explore the importance of time signatures and counting beats as they play as an ensemble. The independent task allows students to explore the purpose of Call and Response, composing a short call a response ostinato that starts and ends the rhythm that they composed in lesson 1. Challenge students by encouraging them to compose a B section, developing their understanding of form.

Lesson 1 of 6 of a drumming unit. This unit makes use of Djembe drums and develops students understanding of rhythm, dynamics, structure and ensemble skills. Lesson 1 introduces/ revisits note values and durations. Students work towards performing three rhythms together, either in unison or as a 3 part polyrhythm.

Lesson 3 - Keyboard Skills. Students recall finger system and pitches on the stave from Lesson 1 and 2 continuing to use phrases to help them learn the notes on the lines and spaces of a musical stave. Students learn about the concept of chords being two or more notes played at the same time, creating harmony and build their keyboard skills by applying chords to a piece they already know. Ode to Joy uses G major and D major, and Little Playmate uses C major, G major and F major. These tasks can be scaffolded by using root notes only and splitting the melody/ harmony role in pairs and likewise, students can be challenged to play both hands together and composing a more interesting rhythm. This lesson aims to promote good practice and demonstrate to students that piano is not as hard as they think it is if they practice slowly and accurately.