Grade 1 Music Creating and composing music – Melody Notes
Melody (Melodi) 🎶
Melody means the tune you can sing. It is a row of notes that go up and down and make a song you remember. (In Swahili: melodi.)
Why melody is fun:
- You can sing it alone or with friends.
- It helps us remember songs (like Kenyan children’s songs).
- We make melodies with our voice or with instruments (🥁 marimba, drums).
Parts of a simple melody:
- Notes — little sounds (Do, Re, Mi).
- Pitch — how high or low a note is.
- Tune — the whole melody you sing.
Look — notes go up and down:
Higher = top, Lower = bottom
Do
Re
Mi
Fa
So
These are five notes we can sing. Try singing them up and down: Do Re Mi Fa So — So Fa Mi Re Do.
Try this short tune (sing slowly):
Solfa words: Do Do So So La La So
You can clap once for each word and sing. This is the start of a tune many children know. Try it with a small drum (ngoma) or clapping.
Activity — Make your own melody!
- Pick 3 notes: Do, Mi, So.
- Sing them in a pattern (example: Do Mi So Mi).
- Clap the rhythm: clap–clap–long–clap while singing.
- Play the tune on a small xylophone, marimba or with sticks on a table.
Tip for parents/teachers: Use a familiar Kenyan song and change one line to make a new melody. Children love repeating and answering — use call-and-response!
Quick exercises (1–2 minutes each):
- Sing “Do Re Mi” slowly and then fast.
- Make a happy melody (lots of high notes) and a sleepy melody (lots of low notes).
- Ask a friend to sing one note, then you sing the next note. Take turns!
Have fun making melodies! Try with friends, family, or instruments. 🇰🇪 🎵