Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 6
Composing a rhythmic variation to a theme
I can make a rhythmic change to the theme to create a variation and can notate the changes I have made.
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- Year 6
Composing a rhythmic variation to a theme
I can make a rhythmic change to the theme to create a variation and can notate the changes I have made.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Theme and variations is a type of musical structure.
- Composers can use different instrumentation to alter the timbre and character of the theme.
- A rhythmic variation is when the rhythm of the original theme is altered.
- You can still recognise the theme in a rhythmic variation as the melody is the same.
Keywords
Instrumentation - the combination of musical instruments used by a composer in a composition
Theme and varitations - a structure in music where the main theme is stated at the beginning and then repeated throughout, but changed in some way each time
Rhythmic variation - when the rhythm of the theme is altered
Rhythm - the pattern of sounds and silences that we play and sing
Common misconception
Rhythms with shorter duration notes means the music is faster.
The speed of music is determined by the tempo. A complicated rhythm with shorter notes can be played at a fast or slow tempo
To help you plan your year 6 music lesson on: Composing a rhythmic variation to a theme, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 music lesson on: Composing a rhythmic variation to a theme, 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.
Explore more key stage 2 music lessons from the Compose and Create: creating melodic variations based on a theme unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
A class set of glockenspiels or other tuned instruments.
Licence
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