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      Preparing for part work: practising songs in rhythm names and solfège

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can sing songs in rhythm names and solfège from memory.

      Key learning points

      1. Rhythm names like ta and ta-di can be worked out using beat fingers, listening for how many sounds are on each beat.
      2. Pitch actions can help us recognise melodic shape
      3. We can use solfège like so, mi and do to identify specific pitches.

      Keywords

      • Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock

      • Rhythm - the pattern of sounds that we play and sing

      • Melodic shape - the up and down movement of pitches in music

      • Solfège - a system of naming pitches so we can recognise patterns by ear (e.g. do re mi)

      Common misconception

      Beat and rhythm are the same thing.

      The beat is the showing or playing of the steady pulse. They rhythm is the pattern of sounds which we play in time to the beat.

      Teacher tip

      Allow pupils lots of opportunities to practise singing and signing the solfège hand signs. This will feel easier the more they do it.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), 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

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      When music is in 4-time, the beat pattern feels :

      1 - strong
      2 - weak
      3 - medium
      4 - weak

      Q2.
      In the song Double Double, the highest pitch is always on which word?

      this
      Correct answer: double
      that

      Q3.
      is the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock.

      Correct Answer: Beat, beat

      Q4.
      What is melodic shape?

      a single sound in music
      the shape of our mouth when we sing
      Correct answer: the up and down movement of pitches in music
      a short repeated musical idea

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which rhythm is Taka-di?

      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q2.
      Which rhythm has two equal sounds?

      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q3.
      Which solfège hand sign is showing the pitch 'mi'?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q4.
      Sing 'Double Double' in solfa. How many times do we hear the pitch 'mi'?

      1
      2
      3
      Correct answer: 4
      5
      Q1 image 1 MuseScore Studio is developed by Muse Group https://musescore.org/en Q1 image 2 MuseScore Studio is developed by Muse Group https://musescore.org/en Q1 image 3 MuseScore Studio is developed by Muse Group https://musescore.org/en Q1 image 4 MuseScore Studio is developed by Muse Group https://musescore.org/en Q2 image 1 MuseScore Studio is developed by Muse Group https://musescore.org/en Q2 image 2 MuseScore Studio is developed by Muse Group https://musescore.org/en Q2 image 3 MuseScore Studio is developed by Muse Group https://musescore.org/en Q2 image 4 MuseScore Studio is developed by Muse Group https://musescore.org/en

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