Rhythm and beat
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify and play the beat or rhythm of a song.
Key learning points
- Sea shanties and working songs have a steady pulse and a rhythm.
- Rhythm is the pattern of notes that we play and sing. A steady beat can help us to play and sing rhythms in time.
- An ostinato is a repeated musical pattern that is played to a strong beat.
- laying and listening to an ostinato can help us to play and sing in time together.
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
Rhythm - the pattern of notes that we play and sing
Ostinato - a repeated musical pattern
Common misconception
The ostinato rhythm matches the syllabic rhythm of the words all the way through the song.
Ostinatos are short repeated musical patterns, and so the rhythmic ostinato (taken from a small part of the words) stays the same all the way through.
Teacher tip
When pupils are playing the rhythm (including an ostinato), whisper the words together as you play. Once pupils can play the rhythm accurately, they can try mouthing the words only, before eventually saying them only in their "thinking voices."
Equipment
Drums (enough for half the class to have one each or for a small team of 1-6 pupils), claves (enough for half the class to have one pair each)
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is an echo?
Q2.How do we chant this rhythm?
Q3.How do we chant this rhythm?
Q4.Match the musical element to its definition.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Tongo is an example of ...
Q2.What is this an example of?
Q3.What is an ostinato?
Q4.Match the musical element to its definition.
To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Rhythm and beat, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 music lesson on: Rhythm and beat, 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 together: how singing helps us work together unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.