icon-background-square
New
New
Year 2

Combining rhythm and timbre

I can rehearse a rhythm and can choose an instrument, based on its timbre, to perform it on.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 2

Combining rhythm and timbre

I can rehearse a rhythm and can choose an instrument, based on its timbre, to perform it on.

warning

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.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When we chant an animal description we are chanting in a rhythm.
  2. We can rehearse rhythms to improve and prepare for performance.
  3. An instrument might be chosen to represent an animal based on its timbre.
  4. There is no right and wrong when choosing instruments to represent an animal.

Keywords

  • Rhythm - the pattern of sounds that we play and sing

  • Rehearse - to practise in order to improve and prepare for performance

  • Timbre - a description of the sound or tone of an instrument

Common misconception

Instruments can only create one sound or represent one animal.

There is no right or wrong when choosing instruments for their timbre.


To help you plan your year 2 music lesson on: Combining rhythm and timbre, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Create your selection of instruments for today's lessons based on those that the pupils will find easier to play clear rhythms on e.g. an egg shaker instead of an ocean drum may be one substitution.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

A variety of classroom percussion. A box with a lid that can fit multiple instruments inside.

copyright

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...

4 Questions

Q1.
What is a composer?
someone who sings in a choir
someone who conducts an orchestra
Correct answer: someone who creates their own new music
Q2.
When we chant we are...
Correct answer: speaking in time to a steady pulse
singing a call and response song
learning new melodies
Q3.
When we describe the unique sound an instrument makes, we are describing its .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: timbre, Timbre
Q4.
Match the musical element to the definition.
Correct Answer:rhythm,the pattern of sounds that we play and sing
tick

the pattern of sounds that we play and sing

Correct Answer:tempo,how fast or slow the music is played
tick

how fast or slow the music is played

Correct Answer:timbre,a description of the sound or tone of an instrument
tick

a description of the sound or tone of an instrument

4 Questions

Q1.
Timbre is...
how high or low the notes are
a description of the sound or tone of an instrument
how loud or quiet the notes are
Q2.
Why do we rehearse?
Correct answer: so we improve our playing or singing
Correct answer: so we get better at playing in time together
so we can write down our composition
Q3.
True or false. Instruments can only create one sound or represent one animal.
Correct Answer: false, False
Q4.
Which rhythm shows our chant 'big, white polar bear'?
Ta Ta Ta-di Ta-di
Correct answer: Ta Ta Ta-di Ta
Ta Ta-di Ta-di Ta