UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China Block H: Music
In this creative block, find out about the instruments (bells, pipes, cymbals, flutes) and music made by the Shang people – make simple instruments and compose a piece of instrumental music about the final days of the Shang Dynasty.
Block H: Shang Dynasty Music[4 Sessions] / Main outcome: History
Other outcomes: Music
By the end of this block you will have achieved the following outcomes: / · Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.
· A depth study of The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China.
· Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts.
· Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes.
· Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.
Session 1: History and Music
Shang music
Children will learn about Shang musical instruments, discuss what these musical instruments could have been used for, find modern equivalents and try them out / Children will:
· Describe features of the music
· Explain some of the features of ancient Chinese music
· Play musical instruments in a way that recalls the ancient Chinese music
Session 2: History and Music
Emotive music
Listen to different compositions that tell a story or evoke an emotion and examine how the pitch, tempo, timbre and structure communicates elements of a story or an emotion. / Children will:
· Appreciate the emotional aspect of music
· Improvise music to create a certain emotion
· Discuss the Shang use of music
Session 3: History and Music
Downfall of the Shang
Tell children the story of the downfall of the Shang dynasty. Children improvise a composition to accompany the story. Note down what tempo, pitch and timbre each part of the orchestra plays during each section of the story. / Children will:
· Improvise a piece of music to tell a story
· Contribute to a composition that tells a story
· Perform a composition to tell a story
Session 4: History and Music
Perform the Shang piece
Children will practice and perform the Shang piece to an audience. / Children will:
· Plan a performance
· Explain features of Shang music
· Take part in an ensemble performance
Resources
Session 1
Provided: PowerPoint presentation about Shang instruments; Information sheet covering musical terminology.
You will need: Bells, panpipes, flutes, drums, cymbals, ocarinas, chimes.
Session 2
Provided: Emotion Cards; Elements of Music to Evoke Emotions information sheet.
You will need: Bells, pan pipes, flutes, drums, cymbals, ocarinas, chimes.
Session 3
Provided: PowerPoint presentation on the Shijing; Story about the downfall of the Shang from the Shijing; Presentation about musical notation; Composition template; Example of Chinese melody using western notation.
You will need: Bells, pan pipes, flutes, drums, cymbals, ocarinas, chimes.
Session 4
Provided: Template covering the poem for the composition.
You will need: Bells, pan pipes, flutes, drums, cymbals, ocarinas, chime bars.
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