Classical Music

Scheme of Work (6-8 lessons)
Objectives
• To learn about different genres, composers, instruments and musical forms from the Classical Era (1750-1820),
• To apply this knowledge when listening to an unfamiliar piece
• To sing both a song and an opera aria from the Classical Era
• To understand how both accompanying patterns and melodies can be created from notes in the underlying chords (using the major triads G, D, A, C and F)
• As a result, to be able to play both an accompanying (‘oom-cha’) pattern and a melody (for a minuet) on the keyboard
• To compose one or two 8-bar section(s) of music, using chords and melody, which can be used as another section of a minuet in either ternary or Rondo form
Lesson Overview
• Lesson 1: Schubert’s ‘The Trout’ and Strophic Form
• Lesson 2: Gluck’s ‘What is life’ and Rondo form
• Lesson 3: Consolidation of Classical Vocal music
• Lesson 4: Haydn’s ‘Emperor Quartet’ and Variation form
• Lesson 5: Mozart’s Minuet and Ternary Form
• Lesson 6: Consolidation of musical forms
• Lesson 7: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Sonata Form*
• Lesson 8: Conclusion*

* Optional lessons which may be omitted for a six-lesson scheme of work
Subject-specific vocabulary
• Composers: Schubert, Gluck, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven
• Genres: song, opera, aria, symphony, minuet
• Voices, instruments and their groupings: soprano, alto, piano, string quartet, orchestra
• Forms: strophic, rondo, ternary, theme and variations, sonata form
Assessments
• Performing (singing) – Schubert’s ‘The Trout’ or Gluck’s ‘What is life’
• Performing (keyboard) – adaptations of accompaniment to ‘The Trout’ or Mozart’s Minuet
• Composing – additional 8-bar section(s) for Mozart’s Minuet
• Listening – exercise on unfamiliar piece in last lesson