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Lesson 4 of 6
  • Year 3

Playing and singing simultaneously

I can play a rhythmic ostinato and sing at the same time.

Lesson 4 of 6
New
New
  • Year 3

Playing and singing simultaneously

I can play a rhythmic ostinato and sing at the same time.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A simple way to create an ostinato is to use rhythms from a song or chant.
  2. Using stick notation is one way of notating an ostinato.
  3. An ostinato can make an effective accompaniment to our singing.
  4. Performing a rhythmic ostinato as we sing a song adds texture and interest to our performance.

Keywords

  • Rhythm - the pattern of sounds that we play and sing

  • Stick notation - a way of writing music down

  • Ostinato - a repeating musical pattern which can by rhythmic or melodic

  • Accompaniment - a musical part that supports the main melody or chant

  • Texture - the combination of different layers of sounds

Common misconception

An ostinato is not a very exciting accompaniment.

An ostinato can make a singing performance more interesting and memorable. Ostinatos are used to great effect in many pieces of music in different styles and genres.


To help you plan your year 3 music lesson on: Playing and singing simultaneously, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Before playing and singing 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 singing and the other playing.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Untuned percussion instruments such as claves. Multiple copies of the worksheet to cut and stick rhythms.

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.
Match the musical element to its definition.

Correct Answer:pulse,the regular, steady heartbeat of the music

the regular, steady heartbeat of the music

Correct Answer:rhythm,the pattern of sounds that we play and sing

the pattern of sounds that we play and sing

Correct Answer:beat,the playing or showing of the steady pulse like the ticking of a clock

the playing or showing of the steady pulse like the ticking of a clock

Correct Answer:texture,the combination of different layers of sounds

the combination of different layers of sounds

Q2.
Which of the following can help us read and remember rhythms?

note heads on a stave
chord symbols
Correct answer: stick notation

Q3.
How would you chant this rhythm?

An image in a quiz
Ta Ta-di Ta-di Takadimi
Ta-di Takadimi Takadimi Ta
Correct answer: Takadimi Ta-di Ta-di Ta

Q4.
An is a repeated musical pattern.

Correct Answer: ostinato, Ostinato

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
An ostinato is a type of ...

song
Correct answer: accompaniment
instrument

Q2.
What is this rhythm called?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Takadi, Taka-di, Ta-ka-di, takadi

Q3.
Why is an ostinato an effective accompaniment?

They only use low notes.
They are long and complicated.
Correct answer: They are memorable and catchy.

Q4.
What is texture?

Correct answer: The combination of different layers of sounds.
The way the music is organised.
How high or low the note is.