- Year 10
- OCR
Making more of rhythmic ideas
I can create longer phrases of material by developing small rhythmic ideas.
- Year 10
- OCR
Making more of rhythmic ideas
I can create longer phrases of material by developing small rhythmic ideas.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Composers should carefully consider how to use rhythm.
- Composers can use augmentation and diminution to develop musical ideas, such as new melodic ideas or countermelodies.
- Our composing skills develop through making the most of small musical ideas.
- 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...
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.
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 note value lasts for half as long as a minim?
Q2.Which of these terms applies to rhythm?
Q3.What three features could be used to create more complex rhythm patterns?
Q4.Which of these are examples of expression used by composers to show how the music should be played?
Q5.Staccato notes and accents are examples of .
Q6.Match the following rhythmic devices to their definition.
a short repeated pattern
rhythms that emphasise notes in between the main beats
two or more independent rhythms played at the same time
three notes played in the time of two
straight quavers played with a longer first note in a triplet feel