Rehearsing as an ensemble
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can work in a small ensemble using effective rehearsal strategies to prepare for a performance.
Key learning points
- We can play and sing our part accurately and confidently as part of a small ensemble.
- Choosing an ensemble leader can help us to play in time together and begin and end at the same moment.
- In an ensemble, it is important to listen carefully to the overall sound to balance and blend each part.
- Part of playing in an ensemble is adjusting our own part when needed to help the group stay together.
- We can use a range of rehearsal strategies to help us prepare for a performance as an ensemble.
Keywords
Rehearse - to practise in order to improve and prepare for performance
Tempo - the speed of the music - how fast or slow the music is played
Balance - how each part is matched against another to ensure that no one part overwhelms the others
Dynamics - how loud or quiet the music is
Common misconception
Rehearsing simply means playing a piece again and again.
To rehearse effectively, we need to work on sepcific areas for improvement to help us to play and sing together and create a balanced sound.
Teacher tip
It is important to use a range of different rehearsal techniques. Pupils need to be taught how to rehearse, as this is itself a key skill for musicians to learn.
Equipment
Pitched percussion instruments that can play a G, C and D.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of these is not a useful rehearsal strategy?
Q2.Why do we count in?
Q3.When we play in an ensemble, we are aware of our , so that we can balance the parts within the texture.
Q4.True or false? In a rehearsal we can experiment with the music and make decisions together about how we want the music to sound.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.In an ensemble, why is playing at the same tempo important?
Q2.True or false? Part of playing in an ensemble is adjusting our own part when needed to help the group stay together.
Q3.True or false? Every time we rehearse together, we should work on the same things to get better at them.
Q4.Blending is ...
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Rehearsing as an ensemble, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Rehearsing as an ensemble, 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: effective rehearsing as part of an ensemble unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.