Ensemble storytelling through song
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can demonstrate my understanding of opera by performing a song in character and conveying their emotional journey.
Key learning points
- Understanding the structure helps us remember a song for a performance.
- We can stage a song by considering what the characters want in the song and how to make that clear to the audience.
- Rehearsing helps us make sure that the story we are telling is clear and that we feel confident in our parts.
- Reflecting on our performance helps us to understand what we've learnt and how we can improve for our next performance.
Keywords
Structure - the way the music is organised
Round - a strong structure where mltiplegroups sing the same melody but start at different times
Unison - the same tune sung or played at the same time
Rehearsal - a practice session in which a performance is prepared
Common misconception
Rehearsal is just singing the song over to make sure we know it.
Rehearsal helps us develop our relationships with other characters on stage, work out what we're trying to acheive (eg 'get my brother to dance with me'/'make my sister laugh') and work out how to show that with our posture, expression and movement.
Teacher tip
During the rehearse, refine, reflect part of the lesson, the focus shits from remembering the lyrics and tune, to performing in character. Emphasise the character aspect more because the character's movement will support memorising the lyrics.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1. is a form of storytelling using dramatic singing, acting, costume and design and sometimes dance.
Q2.The is the regular, steady heartbeat of the music that helps to keep us in time.
Q3.What are lyrics?
Q4.Match the musical storytelling to its definition.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the musical element to its definition.
Q2.True or false? A round is a singing structure in which two or more songs that fit together are sung at the same time.
Q3.When we sing the same melody at the same time, we are singing in ...
Q4.We __________ to prepare for a performance.
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Ensemble storytelling through song, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 music lesson on: Ensemble storytelling through song, 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 together: how stories are shared through song unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.