New
New
Year 3

Following a conductor when singing rounds

I can follow a conductor when singing a round to know when it's my turn to sing.

New
New
Year 3

Following a conductor when singing rounds

I can follow a conductor when singing a round to know when it's my turn to sing.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A conductor uses clear hand signals to keep us in time.
  2. It is important to listen and feel the pulse so our part of the round stays in time.
  3. We can thicken the texture of a song by dividing a round into more parts.
  4. We usually sing a round at least the same number of times as there are parts.

Keywords

  • Round - a singing structure in which a melody is sung in groups, with each group starting at regular intervals to create texture

  • Pulse - the regular, steady heartbeat of the music

  • Conductor - a person who directs musicians or singers

  • Tempo - how fast or slow the music is played

  • Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds

Common misconception

Conductors are only needed to lead orchestras.

Conductors can direct any group of musicians - singers or instrumentalists. They can help each voice enter a round at the correct time.


To help you plan your year 3 music lesson on: Following a conductor when singing rounds, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Establish clear and consistent hand gestures for conducting in your classroom and encourage all pupils to conduct with the same gestures. You may like to create these and agree on them with the pupils.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Which two ways can we show the steady pulse when singing or listening to music?
Gradually getting faster
Correct answer: Using body percussion
Correct answer: Tapping our knees
Gradually getting quieter
Q2.
When we layer different singing groups together we are adding to the and making it thicker.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: texture, Texture
Q3.
What is tempo?
An image in a quiz
the combination of different layers of sound
how loud or quiet the music is played
Correct answer: how fast or slow the music is played
the way the music is organised
Q4.
Match the song structure to its definition.
Correct Answer:round songs,a song sung in groups, with each group starting at regular intervals

a song sung in groups, with each group starting at regular intervals

Correct Answer:partner songs,two or more songs that fit together musically when sung to same beat

two or more songs that fit together musically when sung to same beat

Correct Answer:call and response,a question and answer musical structure

a question and answer musical structure

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these are top tips for conductors of round songs?
Correct answer: Make your actions very clear.
Conductors should only be ready when there's musicians playing.
Correct answer: Only start when everyone is looking at you.
Allow one group to get slightly quicker.
Start off slowly and then build up to the right speed.
Q2.
What does this conductor gesture mean?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: stop, stop singing, Stop, come off, your part stops
Q3.
The more parts we divide a round into, the the texture.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: thicker, heavier, Thicker, Heavier, thickened
Q4.
If a round is divided into four groups singing, how many layers thick is the round?
two
three
Correct answer: four
one