
	*Online music for education….find….listen…..learn…*

THEMES FOR ASSEMBLY MUSIC

10 week framework

The following extracts are themed and provide you with a whole term’s worth of music to use both in your assemblies.

They represent a range of vocal and instrumental music as well as a range of genres and styles that cover the National

Curriculum requirements. These extracts can be used in assembly time as well as for follow-up work in the classroom

either directly in the music lesson or to stimulate discussion in circle time or as part of a literacy lesson or any other

cross curricular opportunities as appropriate.

The extracts may be used as music for children to come in and leave assembly but there should also be a time in the

assembly when they can sit comfortably and actively listen. This will mean that the music should be played again as

an integral part of the assembly itself. The song material may be used in its entirety but the longer extracts will need

to prepared and edited so that the extract lasts for between 2/3 minutes. It is not always necessary to talk about the

music before the children listen. It is important not to impose too many of our own adult assumptions before they have

had time to formulate their own ideas, feelings or interpretations. However if we are developing this listening experience

into a real learning opportunity it will be important to plan some simple questions that can then be followed up in more

detail in the classroom. In this way we can integrate this listening experience into the whole curriculum, which takes

account of children’s spiritual and aesthetic development – an area which schools sometime find challenging.

Guidance and ‘listening clues’ are given with each set of extracts.

Week 1

In praise

Morning Has Broken (v1)- Cat Stevens
Morning Has Broken (v2)- Neil Diamond
Listening clues You could use these extracts on alternate days as a compare and contrast exercise. V1 – main accompanying instruments piano and guitar V2 – vocal backing plus drum accompaniment V2 – instrumental ‘verse’ Links with assembly themes Think about the words – what do they tell us? Can you put the sentiments into your own words? The Music Lesson Compare and contrast the versions Tap out the steady beat – how are the beats grouped? In sets of three. In V2 you can hear this quite clearly. Discuss the two arrangements – which do they prefer and why? Sing it/ arrange for instruments / make up your own class version to perform in assembly Talk about the different accompaniments. How does this affect the songs? Cross curricular Development Further discussion in circle time around the things that we should be thankful for. Oh Happy Day- The Edwin Hawkins Singers
Listening clues Gospel style – call and response with a solo caller and a choir responding Quite repetitive but just one to enjoy! Links with assembly themes Does it make you ‘feel’ good/happy? The Music Lesson Feel the beat Notice the clapping towards the end Learn some more call and response songs What A Wonderful World-Louis Armstrong
	Listening clues Accompanying instruments – orchestral plus guitar How is the guitar being played? - plucked Links with assembly themes What makes ‘your’ wonderful world? How can you make other people’s world wonderful? The Music Lesson Talk about the different ways of playing a guitar – some of the children may play – let them demonstrate. Plucking / strumming/ playing melodies /p laying chords Try to find examples of different kinds of guitar playing using Playtime i.e. jazz/ rock/blues/classical/flamenco Cross curricular Development Children could write their own versions /words to this song and then perform them Pie Jesu – Sarah Brightman with Paul Miles-Kingston

Listening clues

Sung in Latin – part of a mass – some children may have experienced this in their own church
Begins with a solo voice – think of the quality of singing – very high/contrasting with Louis Armstrong
Notice when the second voice comes in – what is the term used when two people sing together? – a duet
Full choir plus the two solo voices
Very minimal accompaniment

Links with assembly themes

Can the children find out what the Latin words mean?

The Music Lesson

Talk about the differences in our voices. Go round the class each in turn speaking the same sentence –

record this – play it back and listen to the different timbres of each persons voice.

Talk about the range of voices – bass/tenor/alto/soprano- use Playtime to find examples of all these

Leonora Davies

Chair of the Music Education Council

February 2006