ABRSM Teacher Development

Curriculum & Lesson Planning

Guide to lesson planning

Once you have established a broad curriculum, you can plan a scheme of work for the term.
A scheme of work is a guide that maps-out how activities, resources and assessment will be
used to ensure that learning aims are met successfully. Normally this includes times and dates,
sometimes this is shared with pupils to provide an overview of their learning. With this in place,
you can begin to plan individual lessons with lesson objectives, teaching activities and an
intended learning outcome that you can assess.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

To recognise, understand and explain the difference

between major and minor.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES: LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Create short melodies in each • I know the difference between major
tonality. How does this affect and minor keys
the character? 
• I can play major and minor scales
• Teacher and pupil improvise starting on the same notes
question and answer phrases.
• I understand their different characters
Teacher chooses tonality and pupil
and their effect on melodies
responds in same key
• Find some short pieces/studies in
these keys to sight-read. Is my pupil
aware of the tonality of the piece
they are playing?
• Connect with theory knowledge-
explore how major and minor scale
patterns are constructed
• Homework task - ask pupil to work
out major/minor scale patterns
starting on other notes
• Can pupil think of any songs they
know in major or minor keys?

It is important to remember that lessons won’t always stick to plan and of course, teachers have plan
for the unexpected! Being able to adapt and respond to the teaching situation presented on the day is a
vital part of the teacher’s role, but here are some guiding principles for effective lessons.
Lessons should reflect systemically on the
effectiveness of the lesson and approaches
to teaching. They should:
• Contribute to nurturing a love of music,
learning and sense of curiosity in pupils
• Focus on developing the musician, rather than
solely on the means (the instrument)
• Begin and end with music
• Start with the end in mind! The clearer you
are about where you want them to get, the
better you’ll be able to help them get there.
• Impart knowledge and develop understanding
through effective use of lesson time
• Provide practice goals and practice strategies
to consolidate and extend the knowledge
and understanding pupils have acquired in
the lesson
• Include some discussion about the aims of
next lesson

Supporting the teaching and learning of music

in partnership with the Royal Schools of Music
Royal Academy of Music | Royal College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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