The key features of minimalism
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify key features of minimalism.
Key learning points
- Music can often be identified as fitting within a certain genre by its key features.
- Minimalism consists of short, repetitive musical cells.
- Ostinato is a musical phrase or rhythm that is repeated persistently.
- Cells are the building blocks (structure) of a minimalist piece of music.
- The use of repetition in music is an effective musical tool.
Keywords
Minimalism - a musical genre originating from the 1960s that includes the layering of multiple short, repeated musical ideas (cells) that subtly change over time
Minimalist - a composer who creates new music in the style of minimalism
Cell - simple musical patterns that can be rhythmic or melodic (on ostinato in minimalism)
Ostinato - a repeating musical pattern which can be rhythmic or melodic
Repetition - reusing musical ideas, patterns or phrases to make the music more memorable, add impact or create a musical structure
Common misconception
Musical genres have rules to follow, and styles never mix or borrow ideas from each other.
Like the rainbow, music is a continuing spectrum of ideas, with genres of blending and merging into each other, borrowing, sharing and adapting key features and ideas.
Teacher tip
Finding a video performance of Clapping Music is very helpful as watching the musicians can help pupils stay in time.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the musical element to its definition.
Q2.When the same tune is sung or played at the same time, the parts are in...
Q3.What is a phrase in music?
Q4.When notes rise in pitch in a phrase or scale, we can say they are ...
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Steve Reich's Clapping Music is an example of ...
Q2.A key feature of minimalism is:
Q3.In minimalism, one musical idea, often played like an ostinato, is called a...
Q4.True or false? In Spring's Embrace, the cells are all built of simple, descending phrases.
To help you plan your 5 music lesson on: The key features of minimalism, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 music lesson on: The key features of minimalism, 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 2 music lessons from the Compose and rehearse: creating and combining minimalist cells unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.