Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 5
Singing and playing syncopated rhythms
I can play and sing syncopated rhythms and know that syncopation is when beats that are usually weaker are emphasised.
- Year 5
Singing and playing syncopated rhythms
I can play and sing syncopated rhythms and know that syncopation is when beats that are usually weaker are emphasised.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- We can identfy offbeats in a bar whilst counting and clapping.
- Syncopated music can give us a sense of movement, grab our attention, or add an interesting groove to a piece.
- Syncopation can be played on any instrument including the voice.
- We can play and sing different syncopated rhythms layered over each other.
Keywords
Syncopation - rhythms that emphasise the beats that are usually weaker
Offbeat - weak beats or notes between beats
Pulse - the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
Rhythmic ostinato - a repeating musical idea created from a rhythmic pattern
Common misconception
Syncopated rhythms are really difficult.
Syncopated rhythms 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 5 music lesson on: Singing and playing syncopated rhythms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 music lesson on: Singing and playing 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.
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Explore more key stage 2 music lessons from the Singing for performance: syncopation in songs unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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