Young Person’s Guide to Music: A Summer School project

5th July 2023

Chloe Chau from Singapore

Miumiu from China

… and from Cambridge in the UK.

We do not have any instruments in our class (yet … later we shall make a xylophone !), but we all have voices and can sing !

Let’s start with a round. This is when some of the class sing a song, then the other students sing the same song BUT one verse later.

Listen to this children’s song called ‘London Burning.’ Listen and then we shall try to sing. Many points to the best singers.

Teacher’s Note: split the class into small groups depending on class size and motivation. Award points for the best performances.

First question – do you know any famous composers ?

M _ _ _ _ _

B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

C _ _ _ _ _

B _ _ _

P _ _ _ _ _ _ _

QUESTION RUNAROUND

Teacher’s Note: Keep class in small groups. Select one student per group to run up to the board and place – not slap – their hand on number 1,2 or 3. Blank the screen so the students can’t see the answers !

Question 1: Who wrote this music

1) BlackPink 2) Paganini 3) PinkBlack

Question 2: Is this music for

1) a birth, 2) marriage or 3) death ?

Question 3: Is this music

1) Happy and joking 2) sad 3) very angry

Question 4: This music is about a planet – which one ?

1) Venus (love) 2) Jupiter (happiness) 3) Mars (war)

Question 5: This opera is set in which country ? 1) China 2) Australia 3) Spain

Last Question: Classical music is often used in films. Was this music used in a …

1) comedy 2) animation 3) space film ?

How does the music make you feel ?

What adjectives can you use ?

excited, thrilled, scared, nervous, awe-inspired

Now it’s time to learn about the orchestra and the instruments.

The number 4 is very important in music – do you know why ?

What are the four families of instruments ?

What are the four stringed instruments ?

What are the brass instruments ?

What are the percussion instruments ?

BUT … it’s not always perfect. Take a look at these: