New
New
Lesson 3 of 5
  • Year 10
  • Eduqas

Making more of rhythmic ideas

I can create longer phrases of material by developing small rhythmic ideas.

Lesson 3 of 5
New
New
  • Year 10
  • Eduqas

Making more of rhythmic ideas

I can create longer phrases of material by developing small rhythmic ideas.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Composers should carefully consider how to use rhythm.
  2. Composers can use augmentation and diminution to develop musical ideas, such as new melodic ideas or countermelodies.
  3. Our composing skills develop through making the most of small musical ideas.
  4. Using rhythmic devices creates interest and variety for the listener.

Keywords

  • Augmentation - Augmentation is when you proportionally increase the note lengths of a rhythm.

  • Diminution - Diminution is when you proportionally decrease the note lengths of a rhythm.

  • Countermelody - A countermelody is a secondary melody played at the same time as the main melody.

Common misconception

Augmentation and diminution are not the same as augmented and diminished.

Augmentation and diminution are devices that affect the rhythm of music. Augmented and diminished are types of chords and refer to the harmony of music.


To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: Making more of rhythmic ideas, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Augmentation and diminution are used here as a tool to encourage pupils to extend and develop new ideas from material they have already created. Aiming for rhythmic perfection with this is less important than using recognisable motifs throughout their music.
Teacher tip

Equipment

A keyboard (or other suitable instrument) or DAW/notation software

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

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Which note value lasts for half as long as a minim?

Correct Answer: crotchet, Crotchet, Quarter note, quarter note

Q2.
Which of these terms applies to rhythm?

Correct answer: syncopation
crescendo
Correct answer: dotted note
allegro
Correct answer: semiquaver

Q3.
What three features could be used to create more complex rhythm patterns?

longer notes
Correct answer: syncopation
repetitive patterns
Correct answer: shorter note durations
Correct answer: rests at the start of the bar

Q4.
Which of these are examples of expression used by composers to show how the music should be played?

Correct answer: articulation
Correct answer: dynamics
pitch
ostinato
Correct answer: tempo

Q5.
Staccato notes and accents are examples of .

Correct Answer: articulation, Articulation

Q6.
Match the following rhythmic devices to their definition.

Correct Answer:ostinato,a short repeated pattern

a short repeated pattern

Correct Answer:syncopation,rhythms that emphasise notes in between the main beats

rhythms that emphasise notes in between the main beats

Correct Answer:polyrhythm,two or more independent rhythms played at the same time

two or more independent rhythms played at the same time

Correct Answer:triplets,three notes played in the time of two

three notes played in the time of two

Correct Answer:swing rhythm,straight quavers played with a longer first note in a triplet feel

straight quavers played with a longer first note in a triplet feel

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the term for proportionally increasing the note lengths in a melody?

Correct Answer: augmentation, augmented, augment

Q2.
is when you proportionally decrease the note lengths in a melody.

Correct Answer: Diminution, Diminute

Q3.
What musical element is used with augmentation and diminution to develop a melody?

pitch
Correct answer: rhythm
dynamics
harmony

Q4.
creates a sense of urgency in a melody.

Correct Answer: Diminution

Q5.
A is a secondary melody played at the same time as the main melody.

Correct Answer: countermelody, Counter-melody, Counter melody

Q6.
Why might a composer use musical devices to develop a melody?

Correct answer: to create interest and variety for the listener
to take up more time in their composition
Correct answer: to expand small ideas
to make sure they have something to write about