New
New
Year 3

Rehearsing rounds and partner songs

I can rehearse effectively using the structures of both rounds and partner songs.

New
New
Year 3

Rehearsing rounds and partner songs

I can rehearse effectively using the structures of both rounds and partner songs.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Rehearsing helps us to improve by identifying which parts of our performance needs working on.
  2. A round is a song structure where the same melody is sung in groups with each group beginning at regular intervals.
  3. Partner songs are made up of notes that sound good together. They sound pleasing together when sung to a steady beat.
  4. It is important to watch the conductor because they show us when to begin singing and help us keep in time together.

Keywords

  • Rehearse - to practise in order to improve and prepare for performance

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

  • Partner songs - two or more separate songs that fit together musically when sung at the same time

  • Conductor - a person who directs musicians or singers

Common misconception

Rehearsing is just singing the songs through.

Rehearsing helps us to work out what needs further practice. It helps us know when to start and stop singing, to feel the steady beat and is a regular reminder to follow the conductor. Feeling more confident will enable a more accurate performance.


To help you plan your year 3 music lesson on: Rehearsing rounds and partner songs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Making sure pupils feel the established steady beat before and during each song will set the tempo and ensure that different groups are keeping in time together.
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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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4 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are the most useful things a conductor might do to help keep us in time?
Correct answer: Beat a steady pulse
Play the tune on a piano
Correct answer: Set the tempo before we start singing
Sing along with us
Q2.
Which different ways can we keep to the steady pulse?
Singing loudly
Speeding up as we sing
Correct answer: Using body percussion to show the pulse
Correct answer: Watching a conductor
Adding more layers to thicken the texture
Q3.
How many layers of sound will be created in a three-part round?
Correct Answer: Three, 3, three, three layers, Three layers
Q4.
How many parts would this round song suit being sung in?
An image in a quiz
two
Correct answer: three
four
five

4 Questions

Q1.
A round with four lines can be sung in how many groups?
three
Correct answer: four
five
six
Q2.
Complete this sentence: Partner songs work best when they're sung to the same .
Correct Answer: steady beat, tempo, beat, Steady beat
Q3.
Rehearsing isn't just singing the songs through. It helps us to improve. Which of the following does rehearsing help us with?
Correct answer: Rehearsing helps us work out what needs further practice
Rehearsing helps us to sing faster each time
Correct answer: Rehearsing reminds us when its our turn to start and stop singing
Rehearsing helps us to no longer need the conductor
Q4.
Which of the following do you most agree with?
A conductor is only needed for rehearsals
Correct answer: A conductor shows us when to start and stop singing
Correct answer: A conductor shows us the steady pulse and helps keep us in time
A conductor should play an instrument to add another layer of sound