a practice session in which a performance is prepared

the steady, regular heartbeat of the music

a rhythm from Guinea, West Africa, that can be played on two or more drums

a vocal jazz technique where singers improvise melodies and rhythms using wordless syllables instead of lyrics

Babethandaza

British English CC

Scat backing

Dawda Sanneh

Don't Clap this one Back

Cookie Jar

Fruit Canon

Creating and rehearsing a syncopated performance - building a tight ensemble

Music

What is syncopation?

Singing and playing syncopated rhythms

Layering syncopated rhythms to accompany a song

Syncopated rhythms in jazz

Syncopation performance and reflection

This unit introduces pupils to the term syncopation through adding syncopated rhythms to songs. Pupils learn how to feel the offbeats through movement and experience how straight rhythms and syncopated rhythms feel different. Syncopated rhythm patterns form an accompaniment to a range of songs.

Singing for performance: syncopation in songs

the players begin and end at the same moment

the performers listen carefully to each other to stay together as a group

sometimes the rhythms and notes are not in time

Which of these are examples of a 'tight' ensemble?

We can improve our ensemble skills by {{}} together, focusing on accuracy, synchronisation and balance.

we play as loud as we can so everyone knows we have practised really well

monitoring dynamics to make sure our part is always the loudest part

monitoring dynamics so each layer can be heard as we want it to be heard

What do we mean by 'balancing the sound'?

a repeating musical pattern which can be rhythmic or melodic

the weak beats or notes between the beats

the regular steady heartbeat of the music

the pattern of sounds and silences we play and sing

Feeling the {{}} helps us to play the syncopated rhythms accurately and precisely.

{{}} singing is a vocal jazz technique where singers improvise melodies and rhythms using wordless syllables instead of lyrics.

the combination of different layers of sounds

a repeating musical idea created from a rhythmic pattern

A group of people who perform together is called an {{}}.

Creating and rehearsing a syncopated performance - building a tight ensemble

Lesson outcome