Identifying different layers of accompaniment within a piece of music
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify different layers of sound under songs and in music.
Key learning points
- Instruments can be identified by their timbre.
- The more instruments or layers of sound we add, the thicker the texture becomes.
- We can add ostinatos and drones to songs to thicken the texture.
- Feeling the steady pulse helps us to play and sing in time.
Keywords
Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds
Pulse - the regular steady heartbeat of the music
Timbre - a description of the sound or tone of an instrument or voice
Ostinato - a repeating musical pattern that can be rhythmic or melodic
Common misconception
We won't be able to hear what instruments are playing when they're playing at the same time.
We can identify the instruments playing by their unique timbre and tune our ears to recognise each sound.
Teacher tip
Spending time checking that pupils are feeling the pulse in both the warm up and the listening activity will support their ensemble playing and singing later in the lesson.
Equipment
Instruments suitable for playing the drone such as glockenspiels, chime bars, xylophones. Claves/egg shakers for playing rhythmic ostinati.
Licence
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