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      How singing softly makes me feel

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can control my soft singing voice to suit a song.

      Key learning points

      1. Singing softly can help the listener to feel relaxed.
      2. Soft singing can be useful at times like bedtime, or when we want to feel calm.
      3. Some songs suit a soft dynamic more than others.
      4. We still need plenty of breath when singing softly.

      Keywords

      • Dynamics - how loudly or quietly the music is played or sung

      • Sing - create musical sounds with our voice that can be a mixture of high sounds and low sounds

      • Lullaby - a gentle, soothing song to help us sleep

      Common misconception

      Singing softly is easier and requires less effort.

      Soft singing requires the same breath control as louder singing. The warm-ups and the breathing exercise help prepare for this.

      Teacher tip

      Encouraging pupils to explore their full dynamic range (from very soft singing through to loud singing) is a way for them to understand the impact and the feeling of singing in different ways. This also helps improve their tuning accuracy by focusing more on the sound they are producing.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Select some ways that can help us warm up our voices safely.

      whisper songs as quietly as we can
      Correct answer: chant tongue-twisters
      Correct answer: move our bodies gently
      sing songs as loud as we can
      Correct answer: do some breathing exercises

      Q2.
      We can change our __________ when we sing, sometimes singing softly and sometimes singing more strongly.

      An image in a quiz
      beat
      pulse
      Correct answer: dynamics

      Q3.
      We can stomp, tap or clap the __________ as we sing.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: beat
      dynamics
      structure

      Q4.
      Match the instrument to its meaning.

      Correct Answer:speaking voice,the voice we use when we talk to each other
      Correct Answer:body percussion,to make a percussive musical sound with the body
      Correct Answer:singing voice,the voice we use that can be a mixture of high sounds and low sounds

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What are dynamics?

      An image in a quiz
      the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
      how fast or slow the music is played
      Correct answer: how loudly or quietly the music is played or sung

      Q2.
      Which is true?

      We need to breathe deeply only when we sing loudly.
      We need to breathe deeply only when we sing softly.
      Correct answer: We need to breathe deeply whenever we sing softly or more loudly.

      Q3.
      True or false? Singing softly can help create different moods.

      Correct Answer: true, True

      Q4.
      What is a lullaby?

      a device used to make a musical sound
      Correct answer: a gentle, soothing song to help us sleep
      an exact copy of a musical phrase

      To help you plan your 1 music lesson on: How singing softly makes me feel, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...