Playing the pulse to keep in time
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can play a strong beat to help us sing in time together.
Key learning points
- When we feel the pulse, we can want to move or clap in time. When we do this, we are sounding the pulse as a beat.
- Playing the pulse as a strong beat can help us to sing in time together.
- We can play the pulse using instruments or body percussion to help us to sing in time.
- Many sea shanties and working songs have a steady pulse that is sounded as a strong beat to help workers sing in time.
Keywords
Sea shanty - a traditional folk song sung by sailors to help them work together in time
Pulse - the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Common misconception
Pulse and beat are the same thing.
Pulse is the regular, steady heartbeat of the music. We feel the pulse. The beat is when we can hear the pulse out loud, like the ticking of a clock.
Teacher tip
For the partner tasks (rolling a ball and partner body percussion), it can be helpful to begin by saying "roll, catch" or "clap, together" in time to support pupils feeling the pulse and hearing the beat. Pupils can whisper along with you before they try moving and singing at the same time.
Equipment
Balls (enough for one between two), claves (enough for every pupil to have one pair)
Licence
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