Teach Primary Issue 18.5

Find your pupils’ inner Taylor Swift with this song exploration activity DR L I Z STAFFORD www.teachwire.net | 31 Start by listening to a selection of pop songs, remembering of course to check for appropriateness of theme and lyrics first. Draw out the knowledge that pop songs (mostly) use a structure of repeated sections called verses and choruses. Verse = same tune, different words. Chorus = same tune, same words. They may also have an intro, outro, instrumental, and/or a bridge that links different sections together. Make signs to hold up, to label the different sections as you listen. Continue by learning to play the four chords on tuned percussion, keyboards, or other suitable instruments. Each chord has three notes and, depending on the instruments you have, you could divide these notes up between your pupils, or ask each pupil to play all the notes themselves. In C major the chords are as follows (lowest note first): I = CEG, V = GBD, vi = ACE, IV = FAC. Practise playing these chords one after the other until fluent. Finally, create your song melody. Begin by chanting the words of your song over the chord progression (either played live by pupils or using a backing track) to create the rhythm. Then, once you have your rhythm, gradually improvise a melody by singing some ideas over the chord progression. It’s easier to do this vocally than on an instrument, because your voice will naturally try and follow the chord progression harmonies. Rehearse, perform, record and listen back to your creation. Choose a theme for your song – with Year 6, I often use the idea of moving on from primary to secondary school. Discuss the kind of story and feelings that you want to express in your song, and gradually turn these into lyrics for a chorus, and several verses. Map out the structure of your song using the labels you made in Step 1, and decide how many times you will play the chord progression for your intro and outro. Next, explore the four chords that most pop songs are based on: I, V, vi and IV. These are the chords that start on the first, fifth, sixth and fourth notes of the scale respectively. You can find plenty of explainer videos on YouTube exploring this chord progression, and you can also find backing tracks so that you can test out whether your favourite songs use this progression by singing them over the top, karaoke style. E xploring pop songs is a fun, hands-on way to get your pupils excited about music lessons. I find this is a particularly great activity for Year 6, especially in the summer termwhen they might have become a bit disengaged with school! This lesson gives them a taste of the sort of work they might do in music at KS3, and even KS4, so it can be helpful in supporting the transition from primary to secondary school . Dr Liz Stafford is the author of The Primary Music Leader’s Handbook , editor of Primary Music Magazine , and director of consultancy company Music Education Solutions®. F EATURE S MUS I C musiceducationsolutions.co.uk @DrLizStafford