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Lesson 6 of 6
  • Year 5

Rehearsing and evaluating an ensemble piece with a thick texture

I can play my part in an ensemble piece with accuracy and an understanding of balance.

Lesson 6 of 6
New
New
  • Year 5

Rehearsing and evaluating an ensemble piece with a thick texture

I can play my part in an ensemble piece with accuracy and an understanding of balance.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Practising is essential to develop musical skills.
  2. Adding an instrumental melody and rhythmic ostinato to partner songs creates a thick texture.
  3. Every part in an ensemble has an important role.
  4. Practising skills and rehearsal techniques can be developed.
  5. Rehearsing together is essential to ensure we are playing in time together and with balanced dynamics.

Keywords

  • Practising - deliberately making an effort to improve musical skills

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

  • Performance - a work that is presented to an audience

  • Ensemble - a group of people who perform together

Common misconception

Some parts in an ensemble piece are more important than others.

Through learning all the parts you will come to see the importance and difficulty and unique qualities of each. Often the hardest part is just holding the beat!


To help you plan your year 5 music lesson on: Rehearsing and evaluating an ensemble piece with a thick texture, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consider the most effective rehearsal space. How would the pupils be best seated? What is the view and distraction points from each area of the room?
Teacher tip

Equipment

Unpitched percussion for the rhythmic ostinato e.g. claves. Pitched percussion for the melody with F A C' e.g. xylophone and glockenspiel. A set for each pupil performing that part.

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.
Match the musical element to its definition.

Correct Answer:structure,the way the music is organised

the way the music is organised

Correct Answer:texture,the combination of different layers of sounds

the combination of different layers of sounds

Correct Answer:pulse,the regular, steady heartbeat of the music

the regular, steady heartbeat of the music

Correct Answer:beat,the playing or showing of the steady pulse like the ticking of a clock

the playing or showing of the steady pulse like the ticking of a clock

Correct Answer:pitch,how high or low a note is

how high or low a note is

Correct Answer:tempo,how fast or slow the music is played

how fast or slow the music is played

Q2.
What is an ostinato?

a recognisable musical idea or melody that is the main theme of a piece
Correct answer: a repeating musical pattern which can be rhythmic or melodic
a constant, pitched sound that continues throughout a piece of music

Q3.
A is a person who directs musicians or singers.

Correct Answer: conductor, Conductor

Q4.
How would you chant this rhythm?

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

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Music with a thick texture will have:

one layer of sound
Correct answer: many layers of sound
many layers of sound doing the same thing

Q2.
Which of these are top tips for rehearsing in your ensemble?

Correct answer: Listen to each other and offer feedback.
Only concentrate on your own part and play it loudly so you can hear it well.
Correct answer: Make sure everyone in the ensemble knows how each part sounds and fits together.
Correct answer: Decide on a leader to be your conductor.
Practise on your own, you do not need to rehearse together then.

Q3.
How does this symbol help to resemble an ostinato?

An image in a quiz
it doesn't help to show an ostinato
it is black and white, like musical notes
Correct answer: it shows a repeating pattern

Q4.
How would you sing this line?

An image in a quiz
so so do so so do / so so so so do do
so so do so so mi / so so so so do mi
Correct answer: so so mi so so do / so so so so mi do