Drone accompaniments to songs
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can add to the texture of a song by playing a drone.
Key learning points
- A drone is a continuous or repeated sound that can be played throughout a piece of music.
- Drones can be played by many instruments including bagpipes, tanpura, and didgeridoos.
- A drone can accompany a melody to add depth and texture.
- 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.
Teacher tip
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.
Equipment
Instruments suitable for playing a drone.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.When we add more layers of sound, we make the texture ...
Q2.Match the musical words to their definitions.
how high or low a note is
the speed of the music
a description of the sound or tone of an instrument
the patterns of sounds and silences that we play and sing
Q3.An accompaniment is ...
Q4.Timbre is ...
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.A constant, pitched sound that continues throughout a piece of music is called a ...
Q2.True or false? Drones are boring because they are just one note.
Q3.A drone adds a layer of sound that makes the texture ...
Q4.A drone is an example of ...
To help you plan your 3 music lesson on: Drone accompaniments to songs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 music lesson on: Drone accompaniments to songs, 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 Playing together: building texture with melody, drone and ostinato unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.