Syncopated rhythms
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can play a syncopated rhythmic ostinato using body percussion.
Key learning points
- Having a strong feeling of the pulse helps us to perform syncopated rhythms more successfully.
- A syncopated phrase can become a rhythmic ostinato to create interest.
- Adding a rhythmic ostinato creates another layer of sound and a thicker texture.
Keywords
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Rhythmic ostinato - a repeating musical idea created from a rhythmic pattern
Syncopation - rhythms that emphasise the offbeat
Body percussion - to make a percussive musical sound with the body
Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds
Common misconception
Beat and rhythm are the same thing.
Whilst syncopated rhythms are connected to the offbeats, this does not mean they are the same thing. Beats occur at regularly spaced intervals, with the rhythm the pattern that fits inside and inbetween these.
Teacher tip
Sequence together your whole body, breathing and vocal exercises to warm up and prepare for singing together.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the musical element to its definition.
Q2.When we play instruments together or sing together, we are playing as part of ...
Q3.A __________ in music is like a sentence in a story.
Q4.When music begins on any beat except the first beat, we call this ...
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Adding __________ to a song creates another layer of sound and a thicker texture.
Q2.Four White Horses contains lots of __________ rhythms.
Q3.True or false? Syncopated rhythms emphasise the strong beats, not the weak beats.
Q4.Music in 2-time usually has a __________ feel.
To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Syncopated rhythms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 music lesson on: Syncopated rhythms, 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 Sing, play, perform: accompanying songs with polyrhythms unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.