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Lesson 4 of 6
  • Year 5

Part singing: adding a rhythmic ostinato accompaniment

I can play a rhythmic ostinato accompaniment with a strong pulse whilst singing simultaneously.

Lesson 4 of 6
New
New
  • Year 5

Part singing: adding a rhythmic ostinato accompaniment

I can play a rhythmic ostinato accompaniment with a strong pulse whilst singing simultaneously.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Adding a rhythmic ostinato under a song creates another layer of texture.
  2. Playing a rhythmic ostinato can help us keep in time to the steady pulse.
  3. A rhythmic ostinato can be inspired by rhythms from a song.
  4. A rhythmic ostinato can be layered under partner songs to create a thicker texture.
  5. Takadimi notation helps us read rhythms.

Keywords

  • Rhythm - the pattern of sounds and silences that we play and sing

  • Rhythmic ostinato - a repeating musical idea created from a rhythmic pattern

  • Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds

  • Notation - a way of visually representing and recording music

Common misconception

Takadi and Ta-dimi are the same thing.

Takadi is quick-quick-slow. Ta-dimi is slow-quick-quick.


To help you plan your year 5 music lesson on: Part singing: adding a rhythmic ostinato accompaniment, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You can practise the rhythmic ostinato in many more ways than suggested in this lesson and the more you practise, the more successful you will be. For example, different body percussion actions can be added for each rhythm (e.g. clap Ta-di, stamp Ta).
Teacher tip

Equipment

Class set (ideally) of unpitched percussion that creates a clear rhythm e.g. claves

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.
The is the playing or showing of the steady pulse.

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: beat, Beat

Q2.
When we sing two or more songs that fit together harmoniously, we are singing ...

An image in a quiz
a round
Correct answer: partner songs
in unison

Q3.
When we make a sound by striking, hitting or shaking, we are playing .

Correct Answer: percussion, Percussion, percussion instruments, body percussion

Q4.
What is this rhythm called?

An image in a quiz
Takadimi
Ta-dimi
Correct answer: Takadi

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
When we add more layers to a song, we are creating a __________ texture.

thinner
Correct answer: thicker
slower

Q2.
An ostinato is ...

Correct answer: a repeating musical pattern which can be rhythmic or melodic.
a musical pattern heard only once in a piece which can be rhythmic or melodic.
a musical pattern played at the beginning and end of a piece only.

Q3.
What is this rhythm called?

An image in a quiz
Takadimi
Correct answer: Ta-dimi
Takadi

Q4.
True or false? Ta-dimi and Takadi are not the same thing.

Correct Answer: True