Theme and Variation - Frere Jacques Exercise

This is a scheme I use with Year 7 and 8. It is a good introduction/re-cap of using the elements of music. Pupils will perform the song Frere Jacque but will add their own variations to the melody as the song progresses. Example track is provided which I tend to use as a model.

I have provided several versions of the song Frere Jacque for pupils to learn. I have added the Sibelius files so that you can edit if needed and change parts.

When pupils are familiar with the melody, we look at how we can add variation. I tend to look at changing the elements of music first (Speeding up, Making Louder etc) so that they can get used to the structure of performing the theme and then first variation etc.

We then look at adding Musical Devices. All of these are given on the resource mat. I tend to give this to pupils and then ask them to read the descriptions and try and apply it to the music as what they think it sounds like. Others appraise their work and then have to guess what they have used. This works very well with higher ability pupils. I have also added a learning grid. This is a great exercise where pupils roll two dice and are then required to use that device/element and can experiment in that way.

Pupils then have a few lessons to create a final performance of the song. I tend to get the pupils to introduce the theme (Frere Jacques Melody) and then perform 3 variations (They have to use at least 2 melodic devices). Extra points are awarded if the music is seamless and flows etc

Have Fun!!!