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Lesson 2 of 6
  • Year 3

Drone accompaniments to songs

I can add to the texture of a song by playing a drone.

Lesson 2 of 6
New
New
  • Year 3

Drone accompaniments to songs

I can add to the texture of a song by playing a drone.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A drone is a continuous or repeated sound that can be played throughout a piece of music.
  2. Drones can be played by many instruments including bagpipes, tanpura, and didgeridoos.
  3. A drone can accompany a melody to add depth and texture.
  4. We can play drones using instruments available to us, including our voices.

Keywords

  • Drone - a constant pitched sound that continues throughout a piece of music

  • Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds

  • Pitch - how high or low a note is

Common misconception

Drones are boring because they are just a single note.

Drones can add depth and a focus point to a piece of music. They can sometimes even be soothing for the listener. A piece of music can be built around a drone.


To help you plan your year 3 music lesson on: Drone accompaniments to songs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If any pupils are learning instruments (e.g. cello, flute etc) they could play the drone on their instrument. Recorders and ocarinas can be useful KS2 instruments to produce a constant sound, but xylophones, chime bars or even boom whackers can be played repeatedly to produce a drone too.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Instruments suitable for playing a drone.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
When we add more layers of sound, we make the texture ...

thinner
higher
louder
Correct answer: thicker

Q2.
Match the musical words to their definitions.

Correct Answer:pitch,how high or low a note is

how high or low a note is

Correct Answer:tempo,the speed of the music

the speed of the music

Correct Answer:timbre,a description of the sound or tone of an instrument

a description of the sound or tone of an instrument

Correct Answer:rhythm,the patterns of sounds and silences that we play and sing

the patterns of sounds and silences that we play and sing

Q3.
An accompaniment is ...

the way the music is organised
a way of writing music down
the speed of the music
Correct answer: a musical part that supports the main melody or chant

Q4.
Timbre is ...

a repeating musical pattern that can be rhythmic or melodic
the regular steady heartbeat of the music
Correct answer: a description of the sound or tone of an instrument
the combination of different layers of sounds

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
A constant, pitched sound that continues throughout a piece of music is called a ...

Correct Answer: drone

Q2.
True or false? Drones are boring because they are just one note.

Correct Answer: false, False

Q3.
A drone adds a layer of sound that makes the texture ...

Correct Answer: thicker

Q4.
A drone is an example of ...

a melody
a rhythm
an ostinato
Correct answer: an accompaniment