Au 2 | Exploring Staff Notation 1: High and Low (Glockenspiel)

Overview

Continuing their musical exploration, Year 3 students venture into the world of staff notation, with a particular focus on pitch, using the glockenspiel. This unit corresponds to the gradual introduction of pitch notation in the national music curriculum. Pupils learn to further differentiate between high and low pitches and start reading simple melodies. This stage of their musical education prepares them for more intricate staff notation and melodic exploration while reinforcing their understanding of rhythm and tempo, which are essential skills for the years ahead.

Expected Standards:

Begin to read and perform pitch notation within a limited range (e.g. C–G), recognising higher and lower pitches.
Interpret and perform music with basic dynamics markings.

Lesson structure

Entrance track
Introduce the unit
Warm up
Action song/reading notation
Keyword
Glockenspiel (instruments)
Listening live/recorded
Song

Begin to read and perform pitch notation within a limited range (e.g. C–G), recognising higher and lower pitches.
Interpret and perform music with basic dynamics markings.