This is a piece of music I have managed to get year 3 pupils of all abilities to perform within one 40-minute session from top to bottom (twice - getting pupils to rotate on to a different instrument too). All rhythms have words to go with them to help. Any rhythms in red (other than the Ganza rhythm) are for the teacher to play and then anything in green (other than the Agogo part) is for the rest of the class to play back. Anything in Blue (other than the Tamborim part) is to be shouted. Enjoy!
For more Samba pieces see my book 'Samba KS2 to KS3'.
Fonts used: Amatic SC and Century Gothic (see Font Pack to download)
I have organised these rhythms to fit with;
1. Samba instruments
2. Instruments from different families
3. Fruits
Obviously people say words in different ways and with different parts of the word accented but as long as you follow the grid itself it works out.
I use this for various things...
a) to display to help pupils struggling to read rhythms
b) to help pupils remember the names of Samba instruments
c) to get pupils picking 4 to make up their own rhythms
d) for games such as forbidden rhythms
1. A Sailor Went to Sea - pupils love this one, playing the C chord on the words sea/see. Helps them remember the chord name really well too.
2. Little Ukulele - great for getting pupils to learn the 2 fingered chord F, however, I teach them Am first.
I have backing tracks for both, let me know if you need them.
A collection of gradually hardening beats, drum fills, combinations, linear playing, etc. for pupils to combine in their own pays, play along to their favourite songs, etc.
Simply open like a PowerPoint presentation, have a go through it yourself first so you can see what actions are triggered when and how.
#1 Rhythm Shoot-Out - Pupils hear a rhythm, the first to shout 'BANG!' and give the correct answer gets a point. If they guess wrong, the other person gets a chance to guess.
#2 What's Behind The Door - Students have to play the rhythm "What's behind the door?" first then the rhythm they are presented with on screen.
#3 Music Monopoly - 4 teams navigate a maze to collect points by answering questions, playing rhythms and taking chances. Print out Characters on final slide.
#4 Musical Stairs - Teams have to follow the beat of a rhythm and tell you what beat you were on when you stop. Guide rhythm to follow.
NOTE: make sure to install the fonts in the .zip file otherwise the games won't look as intended and created.
Pupils have until the count down finishes to locate and prepare the chord on screen. There are 8 different chords, one per slide so you can jumble them up, repeat them, add them in to your own Powerpoints, etc.
All games on my TES shop have been developed by myself.
NOTE: you will need to install the font ‘Headliner no. 45’ as included.
Quick one-off lesson for KS2 or KS3 for Hallowe’en. Good for looking at sharp and natural notes as well as crotchet and quaver rhythms. Print out the sheet if pupils need to write the notes on.
Singing: Michael Jackson’s Thriller (verse and chorus)
Tune: In the Hall of The Mountain King by Edvard Grieg
If you have pupils that really struggle or are really low ability then you could always get them to play the bass part on keyboard, glockenspiel or even bass: B E B E…
Note: make sure to install the fonts to ensure it looks as intended.
I have done this with KS2 (years 3 + 4) on glockenspiel and it has gone down really well. I have used something similar with year 8 pupils (also including opportunities for ukulele, drums, guitar, bass and composition) but this is a good starting point for pupils before they get to high school. Progress is set out over 4 lessons, looking at the 12 bar blues, chords (broken) / walking bass lines, Blues melodies, flat/sharp notes and improvisation. There is a song that I came up with that pupils love to sing that works nicely with getting them to improvise in between too. Those that excel can also be pushed using the 'Blues Bass & Melodies' sheet to help expand their vocabulary for improvisation.
Font: Century Gothic
I have put together a book of all Major, Minor, Major 7, Minor 7 and Dominant 7 chords for Ukulele, Guitar & Keyboard. Root notes and chromatic notes for Bass Guitar are also included. All chords (apart from keyboard) are presented on an updated version of the normal grid/charts used practically everywhere online. I have found that this is easier for pupils to understand as they look more like the instrument than the normal black & white grids. However, it is easy to transfer from this updated version to the traditional look. When I do a song sheet for a song on ukulele I can quickly copy and paste the chords I need from here. Likewise, when I am doing a song sheet in the style of Musical Futures I can copy and paste chords for each instrument then all I need to do is all the lyrics and maybe a snazzy title and picture.
Everything is of high quality in case you were thinking of printing them to place around your room or print as a booklet for pupils to refer to as and when needed.
Tip: if pupils still struggle reading the grids then suggest that they rotate them left 90 degrees so that they lay the same way as you would then see them when looking down at the instrument (providing that you hold the neck of the instrument in your left hand).
This is a 5 week scheme I’m using for Summer. Rhythms are all dinosaur themed and I have adapted ‘Walk the Dinosaur’ used in Ice Age 3 to fit with Samba and to introduce more Singing in to Samba Lessons. Some rhythms are quite complicated but have found that exposure helps a lot of pupils as well as allowing those that are more capable to expand their reading abilities. Most will rely on their listening skills.
Included:
Powerpoints for 5 weeks
Lesson Plans for 5 weeks
Audio for 'Walk The Dinosaur’
Font for Powerpoints
Fonts used: Jurassic Park and Century Gothic
This is the 1 of 6 volumes looking at music in the pop charts, tailored to suit keyboard, ukulele, bass, singing and drums. All charts have been standardised for ease and comes complete with print-out displays for the chords.
George Ezra - Shotgun
Jess Glynne - I’ll Be There
Years and Years - If You’re Over Me
5 Seconds of Summer - Youngblood
Tom Walker - Leave A Light On
This is the 2nd of 6 volumes looking at music in the pop charts, tailored to suit keyboard, ukulele, bass, singing and drums. All charts have been standardised for ease and comes complete with print-out displays for the chords.
Camilla Cabello - Havana
Jess Glynne - These Days
George Ezra - Paradise
Justin Timberlake - Say Something
Jax Jones - Introduction
This is the 1 of 6 volumes looking at music in the pop charts, tailored to suit keyboard, ukulele, bass, singing and drums. All charts have been standardised for ease and comes complete with print-out displays for the chords.
Justin Timberlake - Can’t Stop The Feeling
Katy Perry - Chained to the Rhythm
Shawn Mendes - Stitches
Ella Eyre - Came Here For Love
Portugal, The Man - Feel It Still
This is the 3rd of 6 volumes looking at music in the pop charts, tailored to suit keyboard, ukulele, bass, singing and drums. All charts have been standardised for ease and comes complete with print-out displays for the chords.
Anne-Marie - 2002
Charlie Puth - How Long
Paloma Faith - Lullaby
Liam Payne - Familiar
Bebe Rexha - Meant To Be
This is the 5th of 6 volumes looking at music in the pop charts, tailored to suit keyboard, ukulele, bass, singing and drums. All charts have been standardised for ease and comes complete with print-out displays for the chords.
Post Malone - Better Now
Selena Gomez - Back To You
Clean Bandit / Demi Lovato - Solo
Ariana Grande - No Tears Left To Cry
Anne-Marie / Marshmello - F-R-I-E-N-D-S
This mini-scheme could be used with KS2-3 and includes a handful of pentatonic melodies to piece together as a class or in small groups, handy information about the pentatonic scale and some singing to go with the mini-project.
This is the 6th of 6 volumes looking at music in the pop charts, tailored to suit keyboard, ukulele, bass, singing and drums. All charts have been standardised for ease and comes complete with print-out displays for the chords.
James Arthur - You Deserve Better
Ed Sheeran - Perfect
Zed / Maren Morris / Grey - The Middle
Justin Bieber - Sorry
Shawn Mendes - Nothing Holding Me Back
Available in a bundle including all 6 sets as well as from volumes 1 to 3 and volumes 4 to 6.
Also look out for ROCK ANTHEMS vol 1 coming soon…
Pieces have been simplified in both notation and technical ability.
1. Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs
2. Don't Look Back In Anger - Oasis
3. We Are The Champions - Queen
4. Rolling In The Deep - Adele
5. All Right Now - Free
Note: The Tom positions have been changed to being on the lines (instead of in between) as I have reduced the stave down to 3 lines and pupils have stated they find this easier for identifying Toms with them having a line through them.