Building texture with a rhythmic ostinato
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can play a rhythmic ostinato and chant at the same time.
Key learning points
- An ostinato is a short, repeating pattern in music. It can be rhythmic or melodic.
- An ostinato is memorable and can add interest to a piece of music.
- When we perform an ostinato with a chant, we create musical texture.
- Musical texture describes the different layers that are happening at the same time in a piece of music.
- Takadi is a rhythm where there are three sounds within one beat and the first two sounds are shorter than the third.
Keywords
Rhythm - the pattern of sounds that we play and sing
Ostinato - a repeating musical pattern which can be rhythmic or melodic
Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds
Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock
Stick notation - a way of writing music down
Common misconception
An ostinato is a simple way to add texture. It is not complex or exciting.
While ostinatos are repetitive, they can be quite complex and add lots of excitement to music.
Teacher tip
Before playing and chanting simultaneously, it is important that pupils have had plenty of experience playing the ostinato pattern, and can play it confidently. Start by working in two groups, one chanting and the other playing.
Equipment
Whiteboards and whiteboard pens, class set of claves.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Before singing, it is important to our voice.
Q2.When we chant we ...
Q3.How do we chant this rhythm?
Q4.True or false? Pulse is the pattern of sounds that we play and sing.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.A repeated musical pattern is called ...
Q2.Match the musical element to its definition.
Q3.When we add an extra layer of sound with an ostinato, we are making the texture ...
Q4.What do we call this rhythm?
To help you plan your 3 music lesson on: Building texture with a rhythmic ostinato, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 music lesson on: Building texture with a rhythmic ostinato, 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 Start with playing: adding percussive layers to build texture in our songs unit, dive into the full primary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.