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Lesson 3 of 6
  • Year 5

Celebrating through song

I can recognise how dynamics of music or singing change to suit different celebrations.

Lesson 3 of 6
New
New
  • Year 5

Celebrating through song

I can recognise how dynamics of music or singing change to suit different celebrations.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Songs are used in celebrations such as weddings.
  2. Songs can be carefully chosen to suit the emotion of an event.
  3. Changing dynamics can be a powerful way to create emotion in a song.

Keywords

  • Dynamics - how loud or quiet the music is

  • Piano - a musical direction to perform softly, at a quieter volume

  • Forte - a musical direction to perform strongly, at a louder volume

  • Crescendo - a gradual increase in loudness or intensity

Common misconception

Changing dynamics when we sing is mainly so the listener hears a variety.

Whilst a range of dynamics keep a song or piece of music interesting, the benefits of changing dynamics can invoke an emotional response in both the listener and the singer.


To help you plan your year 5 music lesson on: Celebrating through song, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Choosing listening examples of songs where there is a change in dynamics (e.g. a crescendo) is a really useful way to demonstrate to pupils how our emotions can be affected when listening.
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

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4 Questions

Q1.
What are dynamics?

How fast or slow the music is played
Correct answer: How loud or quiet the music is
How many layers of sound we can hear
How high or low the pitch is

Q2.
The cello belongs to which instrument family of the orchestra?

percussion
wind
Correct answer: strings
brass

Q3.
What is the name for the role of the person who directs an orchestra or choir?

Correct Answer: conductor, Conductor

Q4.
Crescendo is an Italian word we use in music, meaning 'to get gradually louder'. What do you think decrescendo means?

get even louder
Correct answer: get gradually quieter
stay at the same volume
get quieter and then louder

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Match the musical direction to its meaning.

Correct Answer:piano,perform softly at a quieter volume

perform softly at a quieter volume

Correct Answer:forte,perform strongly at a louder volume

perform strongly at a louder volume

Correct Answer:crescendo,a gradual increase in loudness or intensity

a gradual increase in loudness or intensity

Correct Answer:decrescendo,a gradual decrease in loudness or intensity

a gradual decrease in loudness or intensity

Q2.
Dynamics are very often used to convey __________ to the listener.

the chorus
Correct answer: a mood
a call and response
Correct answer: an emotion

Q3.
Choose a phrase to complete the sentence: A crescendo can be used to ...

change pitch
make the music quieter
make the tempo quicker
Correct answer: build an emotional impact

Q4.
Match the dynamic changes to the conductor's gesture.

Correct Answer:crescendo,conductor raises their hand

conductor raises their hand

Correct Answer:descrescendo,conductor lowers their hand

conductor lowers their hand

Correct Answer:piano,conductor uses smaller gestures

conductor uses smaller gestures

Correct Answer:forte,conductor uses bigger gestures

conductor uses bigger gestures

Additional material

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