Preparation

Prepare for a discussion about imaginary characters – if the pupils undertook Homework from lesson 1, you can use these to lead the discussion. Alternatively, you will need to prepare questions to prompt pupils to share fictitious characters from familiar stories, television shows, movies etc.

– Prepare questions to prompt the children to share information about the characters, and what makes them so intriguing (personality traits, appearances, etc.)

Read the whole storybook to become familiar with the story. Take note of:
– Any characters – for this lesson: Prince Caprice and Violet the Violin
– Any mention of musical concepts – for this lesson: the Orchestra and violin
Play the sound file in the next column to become familiar with our narrated story to music 

Prince Caprice meets lots of instrument-friends who play their special music to help him feel brave as he plans his journey – they all play their music in the royal Orchestra.

We will listen to their music, see what they look like, discover actions you need to play them, and read about them!

Become familiar with instruments of the orchestra – namely the violin.
-Listen to the violin playing the melody (main tune) during the introduction and compare it to the whole orchestra playing the introduction tune

• Practice singing the melody played by the violin to both of these music clips.

– Learn the ‘Violet the Violin‘ poem off-by-heart

– Become familiar with the concept of ‘pitch’ – how high or low a sound is – practice singing high and low notes (or making high and low sounds)

Violin playing the introduction tune:

Whole orchestra playing the introduction tune:

Violin:

Strings Family:

Violin Bow:

Violin Strings:

Pitch:

Practice the actions for holding and playing the violin.

Practice playing them alongside verse 2 of the music (violin solo)

Also view the violin playing in the videos, both with a bow, and by plucking with fingers.

Video of violins playing (being plucked) from 0:30: 

Video of a violin playing (with a bow):

Video of an Orchestra:

The violins have a solo during second verse of the music i.e. only the violins are playing.

Take note of the tone of the music – this tone correlates with the mood of the story, and helps the pupils to connect story events with the music!

Practice narrating that the music is quick and exciting because Violet the Violin has agreed to go with the prince to the moon and they are running around packing – you will need to do this in class, and can use the storybook page 4 to illustrate this.

Instruments: Practice playing instruments to match the tempo (speed) of the violin – hold your instrument high in the air as the violin has a high pitch

The tone is excited; this excited tone is created by jumpy notes, high pitch, fast tempo (speed) and a bright timbre (distinctive sound).

Refer to Activity 10 in the Lesson Plan for Lesson 2.

Pupils will be acting out the story of the music. You may need to give some thought as to which pupils could play the different roles.

You may also want to practice narrating to the music as much as possible.

• Percussion (untuned) instruments – one for each child
• A copy of the homework for each pupil
• A printed copy of the violin and bow on A4 for each pupil
• Card for each pupil to stick the violin and bows on
• Glue and scissors (and colours?) for each pupil if pupils are to create their own violins.
• A real violin (if available) – if not, print a copy of the violin and bow, stick onto cardboard and cut each – these will be your props for the lesson.

Violin

Strings Family

Violin Bow

Violin Strings

Pitch

Violin:

Strings Family:

Violin Bow:

Violin Strings:

Pitch:

The lesson aims & objectives (found when you first click on Lesson 2)

The ‘lesson content’  tab, where you will find exercises for this lesson:

• Ensure you can do all of the exercises.
• Read through the ‘lesson content’ repeatedly before teaching it in order to be prepared.
• Play the slideshow (open slideshow button on top corner of page in ‘lesson content’) that will be displayed during the class
• Download and print the lesson activity sheets at the bottom of the page in ‘lesson content’ – practice explaining the activities as you play the slideshow (see point above)
• Plan your own answers to the questions you will ask the children to prompt them and retain focus.

The ‘assessment & homework’ tasks for this lesson

The ‘background information’ tab, where teacher can find further information about the lesson, the story, and the music.