Pitch and Tempo
Year 3 explore high and low pitch and fast and slow tempo.
# Pitch and Tempo
In Year 3 we learn two important words that describe how music sounds.
Pitch
Pitch is how high or low a note is. A small bell makes a high pitch. A big drum makes a low pitch. Sing the word hoo high up and haa low down to feel the difference in your voice.
Tempo
Tempo is the speed of the music. A fast tempo can sound exciting or jumpy. A slow tempo can sound calm or sad. Composers choose the tempo to match the mood they want.
Putting Them Together
A piece can be high and fast, or low and slow, or any mix. Listening for pitch and tempo helps you describe what you hear and understand the feeling of a piece.
Listen and Describe
Listen to two different pieces of music. For each one, say whether the pitch is high or low and whether the tempo is fast or slow. Then describe the mood in one word.
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