Learning a sea shanty with changing dynamics
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can sing a sea shanty with changing dynamics and using call and response
Key learning points
- A sea shanty is a work song sung by sailors to help them keep a steady rhythm while working.
- They helped build teamwork, boost morale and gave sailors a way to share their feelings.
- When we sing in unison, we need to listen carefully and blend our sound with those around us.
- Singing with changing dynamics can help us to tell stories.
- Sea shanties often have opportunities for call and response singing.
Keywords
Unison - the name given to music where everyone sings the same pitch at the same time
Phrase - a musical thought, like a sentence in a story
Dynamics - how loud or quiet the music is
Call and response - a question and answer musical structure
Crescendo - a gradual increase in loudness or intensity
Common misconception
Singing everything loud is a great way to make yourself heard.
Changing dynamics gives shape and character to music and helps to tell a story.
Teacher tip
There are opportunities for small group or solo parts singing the call and a larger group responding in the verses.
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.When singing in unison, which of the following must match exactly?
Q2.Why is it important to breathe together and finish consonants together when singing in unison?
Q3.What muscle helps control your breathing when singing and supports a steady sound?
Q4.What is the musical term for a 'musical sentence' that has a clear beginning and ending?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Order the following dynamics from loudest to quietest.
Q2.What is the musical term for gradually getting louder?
Q3.When one singer or group sings the question phrase and another singer or group sings the answer phrase, we call this ...
Q4.Sea shanties were traditionally sung by sailors mainly to ...
To help you plan your 7 music lesson on: Learning a sea shanty with changing dynamics, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 music lesson on: Learning a sea shanty with changing dynamics, 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 3 music lessons from the Year 7 song guides unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.