Singing partner songs
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can hold my part confidently in a partner song and can hear how my part adds to a thicker texture.
Key learning points
- We can add more partner songs to a piece to thicken the texture.
- Each partner song must be sung to the same steady beat in order for them to fit together.
- Following the conductor shows us a visual pulse to follow.
- Singing confidently but not loudly helps us to keep focused on our partner song and not be distracted by the other tunes
Keywords
Conductor - a person who directs musicians or singers
Partner songs - two or more separate songs that fit together musically when sung at the same time
Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds
Pulse - the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
Unison - the same tune sung or played at the same time
Common misconception
Blocking out the sound of the other song will help you concentrate on your own part better.
By singing more softly, we can hear the other parts and hear how partner songs fit together. This is because they share similar musical characteristics such as the key, the rhythm, the tempo and chord progression.
Teacher tip
Ideas such as singing in a circle with pupils singing each part standing alternately in the circle, or even walking around the room can all help pupils develop a sense of confidence and autonomy when holding their own line.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the song types to their meanings:
groups sing the same melody but start at different times
a question and answer musical structure
two or more songs that fit together sung at the same time
Q2.Which of the following can we use to make the texture of a song thicker?
Q3.Complete the sentence: Partner songs can fit together musically when they're sung to the same steady .
Q4.Put the following gestures in the order a conductor might use them to keep us together when singing:
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Complete this sentence: Adding more partner songs will thicken the .
Q2.What word is being described here? 'The same tune sung or played at the same time'.
Q3.Which of the following are two useful pieces of advice for someone singing partner songs?
Q4.Match the keywords to their meanings:
a person who directs musicians or singers
two or more songs that fit together when sung at the same time
the regular, steady heartbeat of the music
the same tune sung or played at the same time
the combination of different layers of sounds
To help you plan your 3 music lesson on: Singing partner songs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 music lesson on: Singing partner songs, 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: holding a second part in rounds and partner songs unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.