Building a thicker texture with a sung ostinato
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can keep a sung ostinato going under a song.
Key learning points
- Feeling the pulse and practising playing the beat helps get us ready for making harder music together.
- Body percussion can help us control the steady beat.
- A song can have more than one ostinato layered to create a thicker texture.
- An ostinato can be chanted, sung or played.
Keywords
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Texture - the layering of different musical sounds
Accompaniment - a musical part that supports the main melody or chant
Melody - a combination of notes to make a memorable tune
Ostinato - a repeating musical pattern
Common misconception
When we sing, we have to change pitch
We can sing a phrase all on one note.
Teacher tip
Dedicate lots of time to games and songs that develop a pupil's sense of pulse. This is vital for successful ensemble work and composing.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.The is the regular steady heartbeat of the music.
Q2.What is body percussion?
Q3.Which word means we are all singing the same thing together?
Q4.Why might we add an ostinato underneath a song?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What makes a sung ostinato different from a chanted ostinato?
Q2.What does texture mean in music?
Q3.Match the musical element to its definition.
Q4.True or false? We should use a strong singing voice every time we sing to show we are enjoying music.
To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Building a thicker texture with a sung ostinato, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Building a thicker texture with a sung ostinato, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 music lessons from the Singing for performance: adding a simple vocal accompaniment unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.