1. Science - Year 3/4A Summer 2
Sound
Sounds Spectacular
Session 4
Task PowerPoint
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2. Dave and the rhythm band Sounds Spectacular need your help to create a new piece of music. As always, they want to use everyday items as instruments

3. The music will tell the story of a battle that happened long ago
The music will tell the story of a battle that happened long ago. Dave wants you to create a marching rhythm to represent the army.
He wants you to find a way to make the army advance (get louder) and then retreat (gradually fade away into the distance).

4. Creating a marching rhythm A marching rhythm is usually in 4 time
Creating a marching rhythm A marching rhythm is usually in 4 time. This means the rhythm fits into a count of 4 and then repeats again and again.
Count to 4 in a slow steady rhythm and choose someone to strike a loud beat on one of your instruments every time you say “One”. This is your lead beat which needs to be strong. This person will help to keep everyone else in time.

5.
This table shows the lead beat in written form. The blue row shows the steady repeated count of 4 and the yellow row shows the lead beat as a which sounds every time you say 1
Your task will be to create your own marching rhythm by adding in other instruments as well
Here are some ideas to help you get started

6.
Look at the green row. What rhythm is being shown?
An instrument playing
Try clapping this rhythm with the lead beat
The purple row is showing a long sound like a shaker being made over beats 3 and 4
What would the pink row look like if you wanted to show an instrument playing on beats 1 & 3 ?

7.
Your group can create their own marching rhythm in 4 time and write it down. You can pick your own sounds and write a different symbol for each instrument.

8. Practice your rhythm. To begin with it will help to count as you play but once you are confident, try to play without counting.
Can you first make it get louder as if the army are advancing, then make it get very gradually quieter and quieter until it fades away into nothing – to sound like the army retreating into the distance.
Try to keep in time – a good way to do this is to keep your lead beat as the strongest beat.