- Year 10
- OCR
Exploring texture and timbre
I can change texture and timbre to create contrast in repeated sections of music.
- Year 10
- OCR
Exploring texture and timbre
I can change texture and timbre to create contrast in repeated sections of music.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- To create contrast in a composition it is important to vary the texture and timbre.
- This might include changing which part plays the melody and which parts are accompanying.
- Composers use a range of accompaniment patterns to create the mood and character in the music.
- These include broken chords and Alberti bass patterns.
- They change these patterns to create variety and contrast between sections.
Keywords
Accompaniment - The accompaniment is the musical part or parts which provide the rhythmic and harmonic support for the melody.
Broken chord - A broken chord is when the notes of a chord are not all played at the same time.
Alberti bass - Alberti bass is a typical broken chord accompaniment pattern of the classical period.
Common misconception
Broken chords have to be in the triad position where the root is the lowest note.
Broken chords like block chords can be played in different inversions and this can make them more interesting.
To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: Exploring texture and timbre, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: Exploring texture and timbre, 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 4 music lessons from the Free Composition: Extending ideas unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
A keyboard (or other suitable instrument) or DAW/notation software
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which term refers to the different parts/layers of music and how they interact with each other?
Q2.When developing a composition, what is the process of proportionally increasing the note lengths of rhythmic material?
Q3.When developing a composition, what is the process of proportionally reducing the note lengths of rhythmic material?
Q4.A secondary melody played at the same time as the main melody is called a -melody.
Q5.Which term describes the quality of sound made by an instrument?
Q6.Match the compositional technique to the correct musical element.
melody
harmony
rhythm