Work out by ear how to play short, easy phrases or patterns from well-known tunes

Choosing appropriate starting notes, play short, simple tunes with a limited range of notes, e.g. television jingles, folk-tunes, nursery rhymes. Ask learners to select one and explore it away from the instrument by:

• singing the melody
• drawing the melodic contour in the air
• clapping the rhythm

Next, ask learners to work out separate phrases by ear on a pitched percussion instrument, gradually building up the complete tune.

Ask learners to play the complete rhythm/tune expressively to others.

As an extension activity, ask learners to teach the rhythm/tune to other learners.