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      Performing and reflecting on the rehearsal journey

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use feedback to refine an ensemble performance and can review the success of rehearsal strategies.

      Key learning points

      1. The most effective rehearsals are when many different rehearsal strategies are used to improve a final performance.
      2. Feedback from others and evaluating our own performance is a key element to refining a performance.
      3. I can reflect on the practice and rehearsal strategies that have helped me perform successfully in an ensemble.

      Keywords

      • Ensemble - a group of people who perform together

      • Performance - a work that is presented to an audience

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

      • Practise - to deliberately make an effort to improve musical skills

      Common misconception

      Once we can play the notes correctly, there's nothing we need to do to improve a performance.

      Listening and watching the overall performance and getting feedback from others can help us to identify how to refine the performance such as adding dynamics, playing sensitively within the ensemble and playing precisely in time.

      Teacher tip

      Providing an opportunity for pupils to record their performance and watch it back is a fantastic opportunity for them to identify how to further refine their ensemble work.

      Equipment

      Tablet or similar for recording, pitched percussion instruments that can play G, C, and D.

      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.
      True or false? Rehearsing and practising are the same thing.

      Correct Answer: False., false

      Q2.
      A performance is well balanced if...

      you can hear one person leading everyone else.
      there is equal numbers of musicians on each part.
      Correct answer: each part can be heard, but none overwhelm the performance.

      Q3.
      Match these definitions.

      Correct Answer:practise,to deliberately make an effort to improve musical skills
      Correct Answer:perform,to present music, playing or singing for an audience
      Correct Answer:compose,to create a piece of music over time
      Correct Answer:improvise,creating music in the moment, alone or with others

      Q4.
      The combination of different layers of music is called the .

      Correct Answer: texture

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      When we change dynamics we are changing...

      how smooth or detached the notes are.
      how high or low the music is played.
      Correct answer: how loud or quiet the music is played.
      how fast or slow the music is played.

      Q2.
      When we change the speed of the music, we are changing .

      Correct Answer: tempo

      Q3.
      Some effective rehearsal strategies are ...

      play your part loud and clear so everyone can hear it
      Correct answer: try playing at different tempi and dynamic levels
      work on your own as it's more important to practise your part well
      sit in the same position as you do for all other lessons
      Correct answer: choose a suitable environment and layout to work together

      Q4.
      True or false? Once we can play the notes correctly, there's nothing we need to do to improve a performance.

      Correct Answer: False, false

      To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Performing and reflecting on the rehearsal journey, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...