Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 6
Syncopation in songs
I can sing songs that include syncopated rhythms while keeping a steady beat.
- Year 6
Syncopation in songs
I can sing songs that include syncopated rhythms while keeping a steady beat.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Warming up for music lessons protects and strengthens our voice as well as helps to develop other music skills.
- Clapping on the offbeat or weak beats is a form of syncopation.
- Having a strong feeling of the pulse helps us to perform syncopated rhythms more successfully.
- Songs can contain syncopated phrases to help emphasise the lyrics.
Keywords
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Rhythm - the pattern of sounds and silences that we play and sing
Syncopation - rhythms that emphasise the offbeat
Offbeat - weak beats or notes between the beats
Upbeat - when music begins on any beat except for the first beat; also known as anacrusis
Common misconception
Syncopated rhythms are really complicated.
In its simplest form, syncopation is just rhythmic patterns that emphasise the offbeat. They can be simple rhythms, but the emphasis on the offbeat can create an interesting, but not necessarily difficult, sound to recreate.
To help you plan your year 6 music lesson on: Syncopation in songs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 music lesson on: Syncopation in songs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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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.
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