Y1. Lesson 13. Inner hearing [audiation]
Prior learning: None
Duration: 30 minutes
Materials: Untuned percussion
Keywords: Beat, rhythm, singing, chanting, partners, rhymes, circle games.
Difficulty: 
Prepare
Present
Inner hearing [audiation]
Practise
ta & ti-ti, canon
If students listen and perform another task, the term inner hearing, audiation or active listening is used. These terms refer to the comprehension and internal realisation of music or the sensation of an individual hearing or feeling sound when it is not physically present.
Melodic development
Students discover a new song to add to their repertoire.
- Using a measured cadence, sing the song using a neutral syllable to the class.
- Ask the class to repeat the first line after you.
- Continue with the following lines in the same fashion, with students copying you.
- When secure, teach the first line; students should repeat after you.
- Repeat for the following lines.
- Ask the class to sing with you.
Questions
- What was the kangaroo doing at the beginning of the song?
- What did the kangaroo do when the hunter appeared?
- What happened to the kangaroo at the end of the song?
Rhythmic development
Students chant a rhyme and clap the rhythm.
2, 4, 6, 8. Meet me at the garden gate.
If I'm late, don't wait, 2, 4, 6, 8.
- Demonstrate the rhyme, speaking in a measured cadence and ask students to repeat after you.
- Once secure, ask students to chant and clap to the beat and once again with the rhythm.
- Have the class march around the classroom and clap to the rhythm while chanting.
Creative movement
Students use creative play and keep in time with the beat.
- Students form a circle, raise their arms, and hold hands with the child on either side.
- The teacher leads the class in singing the song, with everyone keeping the beat by stamping on the spot.
- A chosen student (the magpie) weaves in and out of the 'windows' made by the students in the circle and chooses a partner.
- They hold hands and spin around on the spot as the class claps and sings.
- When the song ends, the partner becomes the magpie, the first student joins the circle, and the game begins again.
- This game reinforces the student's ability to keep the beat whilst singing in tune.
Listening
Students discover a song using inner hearing.
- Students are seated and attentive.
- Begin by humming Bow Wow Wow and then ask students what song they can hear.
- Continue humming until you receive correct answers.
- Once the song is correctly identified, ask the class to hum with you from the beginning.
- This exercise is excellent for developing inner hearing (audiation).
- If time permits, try another familiar classroom song.
Visual learning
Students use time names to practise their understanding of rhythm.
- Students are seated and attentive.
- Project the time name icon graphic.
- Begin by pointing to each circle as you sing the time names for the song.
- When finished, ask students to sing the time names with you.
- Repeat with the class singing and clapping the time names.
Instruments
Students explore methods of making sound on untuned percussion.
- Have a selection of untuned classroom percussion instruments to hand.
- Distribute them to students in your usual fashion.
- Use the ideas worksheet to encourage students to find new ways to create sounds from their instruments.
- Ask questions such as 'How fast can you shake the maracas?" or "How many different ways can you think to make sounds on a cowbell?"
- Monitor students for safety and manners!
Part work
Students perform a song in canon.
- Join the class in a circle and lead the class in singing Sally Goes Round The Sun.
- When secure that the class can sing the song independently, ask students to listen for something new and different as they repeat it.
- The teacher will enter in canon one or two bars behind the class.
- When finished, and this being the first time the concept is introduced, ask the class what they heard. Answers should include "You started after we did".
- Explain that doing this is called a canon.
- Take a few students, form a second circle, and ask students in the first circle to begin singing. After two bars, begin the canon with your students in your circle.
Assess
Suggested lessons
Y1. Beat II
Y1. Beat III
Y1. Beat IV