J5 Problem Solving in Music

J5 worked hard this morning to improve their musical ability. Firstly we recapped on terms we used previously e.g. unison, round and entry points. We then used our communication skills to listen to a new piece of music called "Autumn Leaves" and had to decide how the track varied depending on different entry points.

We worked in talking partners to come up with words to describe the different versions of Autumn Leaves and searched in dictionaries for the definition of "pitch." Ask a member of J5 to explain pitch to you.

The class were then asked to put their thinking caps on for the problem solving activity that followed!

Could the children use the variety of tuned instruments that they were provided with to work out the notes used to play the song? Quite a tricky challenge.......partly because all children were eager to play the instruments at the same time!!!

After ten minutes of group work, we stopped and recapped on the task. We then suggested strategies to work out the answer. Many groups were singing to each other to try and pick out the correct pitch.

Eventually several of the groups worked out the note pattern -

cccc-bb-aaaa-g-ffff-eee-ddd-c

Two groups performed their final performances to the class and we evaluated them.

Pleny of communication skills - speaking, listening, sharing ideas, numeracy skills - counting notes and thinking skills - problem solving were used this morning.