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Year 1

Composing a simple high and low melody

I can compose a high-low melody and perform this on pitched percussion.

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New
New
Year 1

Composing a simple high and low melody

I can compose a high-low melody and perform this on pitched percussion.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Pitch is how high or low the note sounds. We can show different pitches with actions as we sing and play.
  2. Bigger pitched percussion instruments usually make a lower pitched sound.
  3. Smaller pitched percussion instruments usually make a higher pitched sound.
  4. When we choose rhythms and notes we are composing a melody.

Keywords

  • Pitch - how high or low a note is

  • Pitched percussion - an instrument that can play musical notes of one or more pitch when we strike it

  • Melody - a combination of notes that make a memorable tune

  • Rhythm - the pattern of sounds that we play or sing

  • Compose - to create music

Common misconception

Bigger or longer instruments usually create a higher pitched sound. Shorter or smaller instruments usually create a lower pitched sound.

Usually, the bigger the instrument, the lower the sound.


To help you plan your year 1 music lesson on: Composing a simple high and low melody, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Using manipulables can be effective here. These might be heart shapes (that show the pulse) with stick notation already drawn on them. These could be laminated for future use. Lollysticks are also an option to make stick notation. Using manipulables removes the need for drawing and rubbing out.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Pitched percussion instruments where it is easy to use only so and mi e.g. percussion tubes, glockenspiels with removable bars, chime bars or hand bells.

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is pulse?
Correct answer: the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
how fast or slow the music is played
the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Q2.
A instrument is played by striking, shaking or scraping.
Correct Answer: percussion, Percussion
Q3.
What is call and response?
an echo musical structure
Correct answer: a question and answer musical structure
when we all sing the same thing together
Q4.
Which rhythm shows Ta-di?
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is a pitched percussion instrument?
Correct answer: chime bar
claves
tambourine
Q2.
When we create new music, we are...
performing
Correct answer: composing
listening
Q3.
Usually, longer or bigger instruments make a pitched sound.
Correct Answer: low, lower, Low, Lower
Q4.
Usually, shorter or smaller instruments make a pitched sound.
Correct Answer: high, High, Higher, higher