Document 1m
Year
Title
Stage and
objective of
understanding
Context
(matched to stage of
understanding)
Conventions,
processes and
devices
(matched to stage of
understanding)
Focus of practical
experience
Features of
musical elements
Development of
skills
Expected
outcome of
understanding
(related to context
and conventions and
how it will be
demonstrated in
practical work)
8
Understanding the conventions of the Eastern European Roma Music tradition
Identify and Relate:
Learn how musical styles, genres or traditions and the conventions they use can be compared
and related to their origins; by
Learning how to experiment with combinations of conventions to meet a range of expressive
purposes that reflect changing contexts
Learning how Eastern European Gypsy music is music for entertainment where
showmanship and display are at the heart of the music.
Learning how East European Roma music features:

showmanship, virtuosity and display

a declamatory, raw singing

slides between notes and other improvised vocal/instrumental
embellishments

showy, improvised introductions to songs and dances

middle eastern, modal and western scales each of which give the music a
distinctive mood or character
Improvising
Pitch: Eastern European scales and the characteristic interval of a minor 3rd, derived
from Turkish and middle eastern music
Vocal and instrumental embellishment/improvisation: improvising idiomatic
embellishments into a Roma song and a showy, free rhythm introduction to a East
European song or dance
Pupils understand how the East European Roma music tradition can be related to its
origins in a passionate, traveling community. They begin to identify how changes to
or breaking of the conventions (especially the use of improvised singing and
inflexions of particular scales and intervals) can be used to create different
expressive character. They try this out in their own practical work, showing a growing
awareness of how the context of the East European Roma tradition shapes the
music, and can control the use of virtuosity within an improvised gypsy singing style
with the support of teachers or peers (assessed as developing, secure or strong)
Element(s)
All pupils understand that Eastern European scales are constructed from unique but
different sets of intervals
Some pupils understand that the characteristic sound/mood of Roma music is
determined by the unique but different sets of intervals that make up East European
scales
Expected
outcome of
knowledge and
skills
(for all, some,
a few pupils)
Few pupils understand that the characteristic interval of a minor 3 rd found in many
Eastern European scales and exploited in Roma music is Turkish or middle eastern
in origin and is fundamental in establishing the character/mood of the music
Skill(s)
All pupils can sing a Roma song and imitate vocal embellishments and/or improvise a
short melody in free rhythm using a given group of notes from an East European
scale over a drone accompaniment
Some pupils can sing a Roma song and improvise simple embellishments on
identified notes and/or improvise a fluid melody in free rhythm using the notes of an
East European scale over a drone accompaniment
Few pupils can sing a Roma song and improvise stylish embellishments and/or
improvise a stylish fluent, expressive and showy melody in free rhythm using the
notes of an East European scale over a drone accompaniment
Sequence of learning
Students will develop their:
Awareness and values by learning
how Eastern European Roma music is
characterised by showmanship and
display
Understanding by learning how Roma
singers use a raw, declamatory style of
singing
Understanding by learning how Roma
music exploits the characteristics of
middle eastern, modal and western
scales
Knowledge by learning how Eastern
European scales are constructed
Knowledge by learning how the Roma
use of a minor third derives from
Turkish and middle eastern music
Understanding by learning how Roma
singers add character to songs with
vocal embellishments
Creativity and thinking by learning
how to incorporate improvised vocal
embellishments within a Roma song
Skills by learning how Roma music is
characterised by showy, improvised
introductions to songs and dances
Understanding by learning how the
introductions to Roma songs feature
free rhythm
Skills by learning how to improvise a
showy introduction in free rhythm
Skills and understanding by learning
how to perform a Roma song or dance
incorporating a ‘stylish’ introduction
Essential activities