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Lesson 4 of 6
  • Year 6

Layering rhythms

I can layer multiple rhythms to create a polyrhythm as part of an ensemble.

Lesson 4 of 6
New
New
  • Year 6

Layering rhythms

I can layer multiple rhythms to create a polyrhythm as part of an ensemble.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The lyrics and phrases of a song can be used to create a rhythmic ostinato.
  2. Multiple rhythmic ostinati can be layered to create a thicker texture.
  3. Layering 'on-beat; and offbeat rhythms creates a polyrhythm.

Keywords

  • Syncopation - rhythms that emphasise the offbeat

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

  • Polyrhythm - playing two or more conflicting rhythms at the same time

  • Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds

Common misconception

Polyrhythms are only created with syncopated rhythm patterns.

Polyrhythms are built from a combination of on and offbeat rhythms and rhythms that give a feeling of a different metre (beats per bar).


To help you plan your year 6 music lesson on: Layering rhythms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Sequence together your whole body, breathing and vocal exercises to warm up and prepare for singing together.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Group sets of unpitched percussion e.g. claves, djembe and shakers.

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

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4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is an example of an unpitched percussion instrument?

glockenspiel
Correct answer: guiro
flute

Q2.
What is an upbeat?

the organisation of notes around a central note, the tonic
Correct answer: when music begins on any beat except for the first beat; also known as anacrusis
a description of the sound or tone of an instrument

Q3.
An is a group of musicians who sing or play together.

Correct Answer: ensemble

Q4.
An is a musical part that supports the main melody or chant.

Correct Answer: accompaniment
Q1 image 3 Thea Paraskevaides, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is a rhythmic ostinato?

Correct answer: a repeating musical idea created from a rhythmic pattern
a visual grid system to represent and perform rhythmic patterns
a scale of five notes

Q2.
Layering 'on-beat' and offbeat rhythms creates a ...

Correct Answer: polyrhythm

Q3.
What is syncopation?

Correct answer: rhythms that emphasise the offbeat
the way the music is organised
a part of a word pronounced as one unit of sound, for example ‘syll’ in syllable

Q4.
What is this rhythm?

An image in a quiz
Taka
Ta-di
Correct answer: Ta-mi