Music for kids learning KS1 & KS2 at primary school

The history of music

It is thought that music first began before 500 AD in Africa. Every culture and tribe would have their own music. Some of the oldest music would have been┬áNative American music and Australian Aboriginal music. The sounds would have been natural sounds and rhythms.

The human voice came next with people making sounds by singing, humming, whistling, clicking, coughing and yawning. The oldest instrument discovered has been a bone flute. It had five holes and a v-shaped mouthpiece. The oldest piece of music found was from 3,400 years ago.

The Ancient Greeks used double pipes and bagpipes. Seven holed flutes and different stringed instruments were also┬áused.

Musical instruments

There are many different types of musical instruments they are put into five groups.

Strings - these you have to pluck. Guitars, harps or violins.

Percussion - play by beating them. Drums, tamourine and xylophones.
Woodwinds - blow into these to make a sound. Recorder, saxophone, flute.
Brass - these are also blown into. Trumpets, horns and tubas.
Keyboards - keys are pressed to make a sound. Pianos, organs or harpsichords.