Think, Feel, Create – Class 4 Arts Chapter 12 Notes & NCERT PDF

Introduction

Crash! Boom! Sssshhhh! Dishoom! Hisss! That is the emotive power of music. Imagine a scary movie or a superhero scene without sound effects; it would not feel the same. The book suggests watching a favourite movie scene on mute and then with sound, and sharing how each felt. Music and sound effects can set the mood, add intensity to dialogue and action, build tension, or make us feel relaxed and happy.

What's in this Chapter

Activity 12.1: Aural forest. The Panchatantra story is set in a forest. Children create forest sounds with their bodies and objects around them, and think about which animals and birds make high-pitched or low-pitched sounds.

Activity 12.2: The Four Friends. A deer, a crow, a turtle and a rat were good friends. When a hunter came, the crow flew to the highest branch, the rat hid in a hole and the deer hid in the bushes. The turtle could neither hide nor run, so the hunter put him in his sack. The friends made a plan. The crow flew high to find the hunter. The deer lay still ahead of him, pretending to be dead. The hunter dropped his sack and ran towards the deer, while the rat bit the sack open and freed the turtle. The deer then ran into the forest, and the hunter returned to find his sack empty. The four friends celebrated.

Children first read the story in a monotone: the same pitch and volume, without emotion. Then they read it again with variations: soft and whispered parts, loud parts, high and low pitch, speeding up, slowing down and adding pauses. The book reminds us to use voice modulation when speaking or singing, because it makes the audience pay attention.

Active listening. Musicians need a keen sense of listening so they stay in tune and rhythm and respond to other musicians. Like many sports, music needs teamwork and collaboration.

Activity 12.3: Listening to a performance. Attend a live concert, or watch a video, and draw the performers, instruments and stage. Then answer questions such as: What style of music was it? How many musicians were there? Which instruments were used? What language were the songs in? How did the audience react?

Activity 12.4: Interpreting music. Listen to an instrumental piece; the book suggests one by Dr L. Subramaniam. Close your eyes and imagine a scene, describe the mood, write a matching story and give the music a title. Music can be abstract, which means different people may understand it differently.

Activity 12.5: Recording yourself and listening back. Nature has inspired songs in many languages. Children learn a Kumauni folk song about a rare flower that blooms in the high mountains: "Buru si fuli re… Uncha Pahada Ma…".

Activity 12.6: A song of nature. A traditional Mizo folk song from Mizoram, Turnipui kan dodai ("Beating the scorching sun"). It describes farmers who, even under the burning sun, work joyfully with hoes in their green paddy fields, laughing, until sunset. They then rest in the farm hut, enjoying the view and birdsong. Children record themselves singing, listen back, and give kind feedback to friends.

Key Ideas

Words to Learn

Tips for Parents & Teachers

Common Mistakes