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      Performing, listening and responding to each other

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can rehearse effectively for a performance and reflect on the musical decisions we made.

      Key learning points

      1. Effective rehearsal will likely lead to a more successful performance.
      2. Taking time to consider how we can improve, and what next to work on is an important part of the refining process.
      3. Receiving feedback can help us to reflect on our own performance.
      4. Asking questions about musicians' choices is a powerful way of gaining a greater understanding of the music.

      Keywords

      • Fusion - the process of blending two or more different musical styles, genres, or traditions to create a new, distinct sound

      • Rehearse - to practise in order to improve and prepare for performance

      • Ensemble - a group of people who perform together

      • Perform - presenting our work in front of others

      Common misconception

      Once we can play the rhythms and melodies correctly, there is nothing else we need to do to prepare for a performance.

      We can think about a range of ways to make the music more expressive, for example, adding dynamics to make our music have more impact for an audience.

      Teacher tip

      Discuss the differences between subjective and objective responses to music. A rhythm may be played inaccurately. That is an objective response. The rhythm is wrong. Whether an individual ‘likes’ a piece of music is a subjective response. There is no right or wrong to preference of music.

      Equipment

      A class set of pitched and unpitched percussion.

      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.
      What is structure in music?

      the speed of the music
      a repeating musical pattern which can be rhythmic or melodic
      the combination of different layers of sounds
      Correct answer: the way the music is organised

      Q2.
      When we perform together as a group, we are playing as an .

      Correct Answer: ensemble

      Q3.
      Put these in the correct order, starting with the first activity.

      1 - practise
      2 - rehearse
      3 - perform

      Q4.
      The musical word for volume is .

      Correct Answer: Dynamics, dynamics

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these are effective rehearsal techniques?

      practising your own part
      Correct answer: stopping to consider how you can improve
      just repeating the piece from beginning to end
      Correct answer: following a leader to make changes such as dynamics together

      Q2.
      True or false? The only purpose of a rehearsal is to make sure we can play the rhythms and melodies correctly.

      Correct Answer: False, false

      Q3.
      Which of these best describes fusion music?

      Correct answer: when musicians from different countries play together in a band
      where two songs are mashed together to make a new one
      music that uses instruments from different countries
      music that combines elements from different musical styles, genres or tradition

      Q4.
      What would help you identify the musical influences in a fusion piece?

      Can you hear instruments from more than one style playing together?
      Are there different rhythms, backbeats, or patterns that show another style?
      Are different styles layered or interacting in the music's texture?
      Correct answer: All of these.

      To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Performing, listening and responding to each other, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...