Y4. Lesson 26. Instruments used in modern music
Prior learning: None
Duration: 30 minutes
Materials: Woodblocks or claves
Keywords: Beat, rhythm, singing, chanting, partners, rhymes, circle games.
Difficulty: 
Prepare
Present
Instruments used in modern music
Practise
Instruments used in modern music are diverse and often blend traditional and electronic sounds. Electric guitars, bass guitars, and drum kits are staples in rock and pop, providing rhythm and melody. Keyboards and synthesisers are prominent in electronic, pop, and hip-hop, offering a wide range of sounds from bass lines to atmospheric effects. Drum machines and digital samplers create beats in genres like hip-hop, EDM [electronic dance music], and pop, adding unique textures. DJ equipment, like turntables and mixers, play a significant role in electronic and hip-hop music, allowing artists to manipulate sounds live. These instruments define modern music's distinct soundscapes.
Melodic development
Students explore a pop song and its melody.
Lyrics
- The melody of "Happy" by Pharrell Williams is upbeat and catchy. It's driven by a bouncy, repetitive vocal line that reflects the song’s joyful mood. The melody is simple and memorable, supported by rhythmic clapping and piano, making it easy for students to sing along.
- Play the First Track (Melody Only): Play just the melody of the main vocal. Ask students if they recognise the song. Encourage them to focus on the pitch and rhythm that make it memorable.
- Play the Second Track (Melody + Backing Vocals): Explain the role of backing harmonies in enhancing the song. Discuss how harmonies add depth and richness.
- Play the Third Track (Instrumental Only): Play the song without any vocals. Ask students how the instrumental affects the song’s feel.
- Play the Fourth Track (Full Song): Play the complete track. Discuss how all elements combine to create the final sound.
- Ask students how the melody makes them feel.
- Is the title 'Happy' a good one? If so, why?
- Do the extra voices in the chorus improve the song? If so, why?
- These steps help students understand the layers that build a complete musical piece.
Rhythmic development
Students listen to the rhythmic elements of a pop song and identify the instruments.
- The first track is the rhythm of the song 'Happy'.
- Ask if the beat is fast or slow.
- Ask what the song's metre is and how it can be identified. [Quadruple metre, or 4-metre, counted 1-2-3-4.]
- There are two main drums on this track. What makes the deep drum sound? [kick drum]. What about the snappier sound [snare drum]
- On which beats is the snare drum playing? [2 & 4]
- Apart from the drums, are there other sounds on the first track [claps]
- If time permits, play the second track and ask which instrument is heard [bass guitar]
- The third track has an electric piano, which is an electric instrument with a piano keyboard. Ask what students think of the sound.
Creative movement
Students creatively act out the parts of a pop band when listening to a track.
- Divide the class into three groups and spread out in the room. Group 1 consists of the singers, group 2 are the drummers, and group 3 are the bass guitar players.
- The game consists of listening carefully to the parts heard as the track plays. The track has been edited so various parts are cut out and reappear later.
- For example, when the track begins, group 1 must act like pop stars and sing with pretend microphones. When the drum parts are heard, group 2 will pretend to play "air" drums. When they hear the bass sounds, group 3 will pretend to play electric bass guitars.
- When a part drops out, e.g., if there is no bass, the group must freeze until they hear it come back in the song.
- The choruses feature all groups.
- This exercise is great fun and helps students discern the layers within a song.
Listening
Students listen to four examples of music to identify the genre.
Folk music is often gentle and uses only a few instruments,
Pop music often has many instruments and voices.
R&B often has a strong beat from drum machines.
Rock music has powerful electric guitars and acoustic drums.
- Begin by discussing there are many genres of modern music.
- Genres may be identified by tempo, beat, instruments and singing style. The following commentary is elementary and meant for students of this year's level.
- Play a track and ask students if they can determine which genre of music they are hearing. There is no absolute right or wrong, but asking the class questions on this topic can produce interesting answers.
- Ask students how the music made them feel.
- What did they like or not like about the music?
Visual learning
Students discover some instruments used in modern music genres.
Modern music genres sometimes sound very different, yet they share similarities.
Project the series of musical instruments often used in modern music. The list is far from exhaustive and will be expanded upon in later lessons.
Image 1. All music students have heard on television, YouTube, TikTok, car radio, and mobile phones was recorded in a recording studio.
Image 2. This is an acoustic guitar with steel strings. It is made of wood and has a bright sound. It is used in country and pop music.
Image 3. This is a bass guitar with four thick metal strings. It has a deep bass sound and needs an amplifier to create its sound. It is used in nearly all modern music.
Image 4. This is a DJ using a spinning turntable with a vinyl record. A DJ creates Dance and Electronic music. DJ stands for Disc Jockey.
Image 5. Drummers use a drum kit to keep the beat of the music. It has several parts, each making a different sound. Drums can be very loud!
Image 6. This is a collection of electric guitars. They have six steel strings and need an amplifier to make their loud sound. They are used by rock, pop and country musicians.
Image 7. This is a musician singing into a microphone, playing an electronic keyboard, and recording at home on a computer.
Image 8. This is a collection of microphones. They can record the singer's voice and the instruments of a band. Sometimes, they are used in concert music so the singers and instruments can be heard.
Image 9. This is an organ. It is used in blues, jazz, and rock music and has two keyboards that make different sounds.
Image 10. This is a collection of saxophones. They are made of brass and come in several sizes. They are often used in jazz.
Image 11. This is a classical guitar made of wood with nylon strings. It has a different sound from a steel-stringed guitar and is used in folk and modern classical music.
Image 12. These are synthesisers, an electronic instrument that can make a huge variety of sounds. They need an amplifier to hear them, just like electric guitars.
Assess
Suggested lessons
Y1. Beat II
Y1. Beat III
Y1. Beat IV