L2 MS E

The concept of musical pulse is explained through a real-world example of the human heart.

TEACHER GUIDE

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

CORE: Introduction to the Musical Pulse

The Musical Pulse: Feeling a Steady Pulse video enables learners to experience what a steady musical pulse sounds and feels like by using rhythmic movements to accompany the music.

CORE: Feeling a Steady Pulse

This activity puts together skills learned regarding musical pulse and the song, Lambs in the Field. The aim is to practice expressing the musical pulse and clap-clap action with our hands as we remain in place (seated at a desk or table).

Express the Musical Pulse with Hands

This activity puts together skills learned regarding musical pitch and the song, Lambs in the Field. The aim is for learners to begin to differentiate between our first 2 notes; one high sound and one low sound. We will use body scale actions to embody these two sounds and by doing so, demonstrate the contour of the melody of Lambs in the Field.

Follow the Melodic Contour with Body Scale Actions

This Musical Alphabet: Forwards and Backwards learning experience is a follow-on exercise to the Musical Alphabet: Going Forwards pre-requisite activity. Enjoy the process as learners strive to memorise the sequence of the musical alphabet going in both directions. This can be a challenging exercise that can take many repetitions to master.

Once learner confidence is high, try the follow-up worksheet video for group learning and pdf for printing for an individual challenge. When using the video activity, make use of the pause button to offer time for all learners to work out the answer to each puzzle.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE 1

LEARNING EXPERIENCE 2

WORKSHEET for Printing

CORE: Alphabet Going Forwards and Backwards

This activity puts together skills learned regarding musical pulse and the song, Lambs in the Field. The aim is to explore different ways to express the musical pulse with our feet as we remain in place (seated at a desk or table).

Express the Musical Pulse with Feet

This activity puts together skills learned regarding musical pitch and the song, Lambs in the Field. This audio-only video offers learners a new challenge! Learners will practice differentiating between our first 2 notes (one high and one low) to express the melodic contour of Lambs in the Field with body scale actions, without the aid of the eyes.

Express the Melodic Contour with Body Scale Actions (audio)

This activity offers a visual way to “see” the shape of a melody, otherwise known as the melodic contour. Learners will listen and watch, follow along with the video by tracing the melodic contour in the air while listening, and then complete the activity by making their own melodic contour drawing using the printable worksheet provided.

WORKSHEET

Draw the Melodic Contour

This activity puts together skills learned regarding musical pulse and the song, Lambs in the Field. The aim is to explore ways to express the musical pulse with simple props. In this video we will use 2 pencils.

Express the Musical Pulse with Pencils and Stomp-Stomp Action

Have fun writing new lyrics for the song, Lambs in the Field. A PDF worksheet has been provided as well as a video presentation to take learners through the process step-by-step.

WORKSHEET GUIDANCE

Write New Lyrics

A first exploration into the layout and sounds of the piano keyboard. This activity focuses on the 7 white keys.

PIANO KEYBOARD Printable

CORE: White Key Sounds on the Piano Keyboard

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.emsona.com/student/courses/31252/watch/?enrollment_id=1932520&amp;lesson_id=427469" style="background-color: rgb(106, 252, 194); color: black; padding: 15px 30px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 6px;">Get Started!</a>DescriptionThis delightful unit opens children's hearts to music through the beautiful connection between their own heartbeat and musical pulse. Young learners begin by feeling their pulse and discovering how music has its own life-giving rhythm, just like their hearts.The journey continues with gentle movement activities that help children feel steady musical pulse through simple body actions like touching head to shoulders or waist to shoulders. These movements create a foundation for understanding rhythm while keeping little ones engaged and active.Children then explore the magical song "Lambs in the Field" through various expressive activities. They learn to clap special actions at phrase endings, tap rhythms with hands and feet, and even use pencils as musical instruments. The unit encourages creativity through lyric writing, allowing children to create their own verses about different animals and settings.A particularly enchanting aspect involves following the song's melodic contour using body scale actions, where children move between high sounds at shoulder level and low sounds at waist level. This embodied learning helps young minds grasp the concept of musical pitch naturally and joyfully.The unit also introduces the musical alphabet and piano keyboard exploration, giving children their first glimpse into the structure of music. Throughout all activities, the emphasis remains on joy, patience, and natural development, recognizing that musical skills grow beautifully when nurtured with care and encouragement.Learning Outcomes<ul><li>Connect personal experiences (heartbeat) to musical concepts, developing an intuitive understanding of musical pulse and rhythm</li><li>Express steady musical pulse through coordinated body movements, hand actions, and simple percussion using various props</li><li>Demonstrate melodic contour awareness by following high and low sounds through body scale actions and visual representations</li><li>Create original lyrics and engage in collaborative musical activities that foster creativity and communication skills</li><li>Develop foundational keyboard awareness and musical alphabet knowledge as building blocks for future musical learning</li><li>Build confidence in musical expression through singing, movement, and multi-tasking activities that integrate various musical elements</li><li>Notes and Tips</li></ul>Patience and Development: Musical coordination takes time to develop naturally. Don't worry if children initially tap along with words rather than musical pulse. Practice in small groups, allowing some to sing while others keep pulse, then swap roles. Breaking complex tasks into smaller components helps build confidence gradually.Group Management: Use visual cues like raising hands overhead to signal stopping. The phrase "Ready, Steady, and, Go!" helps everyone start together. When activities become challenging, divide into groups with different responsibilities, then rotate roles so everyone experiences each element.Movement Considerations: Keep movements "in place" initially rather than moving around the room, allowing children to focus attention on expressing steady pulse accurately without movement distractions. This builds a foundation for more complex activities later.Encouraging Natural Development: Some learners may naturally begin singing musical tones with letter names or show other advanced responses. Allow this to happen without drawing attention or creating expectations. Musical skills develop best when allowed to grow naturally in a relaxed, encouraging environment.Prop Usage: Simple props like pencils can enhance engagement. If available, triangles can accompany stomp-stomp actions. Listen carefully to different sounds created by various foot gestures, as this introduces the important musical concept of timbre.Worksheet Applications: Musical alphabet worksheets can be completed as group activities on whiteboards or individual exercises. Always use uppercase letters for letter names as convention. Store completed lyric worksheets in student music journals for future reference and continued creative development.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.emsona.com/en/student/courses/31252/watch/?enrollment_id=1932520&amp;lesson_id=427469" style="background-color: rgb(106, 252, 194); color: black; padding: 15px 30px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 6px;">Get Started!</a>

A joyful music unit that introduces young learners to musical pulse and melodic contour through heartbeat connections, body movements, creative expression, and keyboard exploration using the beloved song "Lambs in the Field."

Course content

L2: Lambs In The Field (B)

Adele O'Dwyer