Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 4
Partner songs and rounds
I can perform partner songs and a round, singing at the right time with accuracy, and keeping a steady pulse.
- Year 4
Partner songs and rounds
I can perform partner songs and a round, singing at the right time with accuracy, and keeping a steady pulse.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Partner songs are a type of harmony where two songs are performed at the same time
- Rounds are another type of harmony; singing the same song, but starting at different times
- A beat of silence is called a rest
Keywords
Harmony - the combination of two or more notes played or sung together, creating a pleasing sound
Partner Songs - two songs that fit together when sung at the same time
Round - a song structure where multiple groups sing the same melody, but start at different times
Common misconception
Singing two songs together or the same song at different times will clash and not sound harmonious.
Partner songs and rounds have melodies that fit together harmoniously, and the parts are sung following the same steady beat.
To help you plan your year 4 music lesson on: Partner songs and rounds, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 music lesson on: Partner songs and rounds, 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 Singing for performance: discovering different ways to sing in harmony unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Large sheet to cover 1 student, washable marker pens.
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which rhythm below is Ta-di?




Q2.Taka-di has three sounds, but how many beats does it last for?
Q3.Which solfège pitch does this hand sign show?

Q4.Put these solfège in order, from highest pitch to lowest pitch:
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of these is not a type of harmony?
Q2.Which song partners with 'Johnny Caught A Flea'?
Q3.What does this symbol represent?
