Music (T5&6)

Our music lessons this year will follow the Sing Up sequential scheme of learning and for Term 5 and 6 we will explore three new topics. 

Balinese Gamelan 

This unit explores the music of Bali through two dynamic musical forms: gamelan beleganjur – a lively kind of percussion music originally performed during a battle – and the kecak vocal chant. Children will learn about the history and content of both forms, develop an understanding of the repeating cycles that structure almost all Balinese music and explore and perform the interlocking rhythms that underpin both these musical forms,  

For more information, please view our Sing Up Balinese Gamelan knowledge organiser.  

Composing in Ternary Form 

Ternary form (ABA) is a very satisfying musical shape that has been used by composers across many genres for centuries. This unit borrows ideas from a wonderful piece by French composer Maurice Ravel called Laideronnette or Empress of the pagodas, which describes the simple story of a little girl walking through a Japanese forest. Ravel uses only the traditional pentatonic scale in this work, and we will use that as the basis for the unit while also exploring dynamics (volume) and tempo (speed).   

For more information, please view our Sing Up Ternary Form knowledge organiser. 

Kisne Banaaya 

This song from India and Pakistan explores how our world, and the different creatures that inhabit it, came into existence. Pupils will learn choreography to support the learning and understanding of the song (in Hindi), learn to sing the song comparing different performances and play an instrumental accompaniment on tuned percussion. 

For more information, please view our Sing Up Kisne Banaaya knowledge organiser.