Accompaniment Activites

Hello

Here is a lesson that could be used to teach simple accompaniments.

It focuses on Drones, Ostinatos and Chords.

This is an outline of how I have used the lesson but feel free to change as you want. I have done this with Year 3 and Year 4. It could be transfered to Key Stage 3.

Task 1 - Pupils learn the Melody (Frere Jacques/It’s Raining). Ask pupils what could we add to the melody to make it more interesting? A: Add an accompaniment

Task 2 - Pupils attempt to add a Drone. You could use a C or G for this. Pupils focus on keeping the drone in time with the melody. This could be done on keyboards as individual or in pairs. I have done this using tuned percussion as pupils work in pairs. A third could keep beat on a drum.

Task 4 - Pupils add an Ostinato. Pupils use the accompaniment sheet and use the scale. Pupils should have a good understand of the beat for the song now so should be able to use this. Pupils free to make the ostinatos as complex or simple as they like. This could be done in pairs. A third could keep beat on a drum.

Task 5 - Pupils add chords. Pupils use the chords in the accompaniments sheets. Explain that you can change chords as the song progresses. Again, pupils timing should be developed. Pupils can make rhythms for their chords as complex as they like.

Task 6 - Pupils create a performance using any accompaniment or a mix. It is up to them. Focus on performing skills

As you can see there is a lot of room for pupils to be creative while providing scaffolding for all abilities. You could add minor chords for more able pupils or they could create longer ostinatos etc

Please provide feedback

Mike Morgan
@MikeMMusicEd