Study Guides

Unit Summary

The song guides cover a diverse selection of songs, designed to develop vocal technique, musical expression and ensemble skills, and building confidence and musical literacy. They can be broken down across multiple lessons to integrate them into the sequence, but can also be taught as full lessons.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to sing Riptide, moving between unison and harmony.

Key Notes

• Different textures can add interest to a vocal performance.
• Singing in harmony means that groups of singers sing different notes that blend together.
• When we sing in harmony, we should be aware of the overall balance of the sound.
• The melody should be slightly louder than the harmony; the harmony parts should be supportive rather than overpowering.

Vocabulary To Learn

• unison: the name given to music where everyone sings the same pitch at the same time
• harmony: the notes that accompany the melody
• texture: the layers of instrumental or vocal sounds and how they fit together
• balance: how each part is matched against another to ensure that no one part overwhelms the others

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• As the pre-chorus melody and harmony have the same shape it may be hard to tell them apart.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Learning a sea shanty in harmony and developing a performance Study Guide
• Learning a sea shanty with changing dynamics Study Guide
• Learning Riptide extended melody in unison Study Guide
• Music Alone Shall Live Study Guide
• Performing a partner song Study Guide
• Performing a spiritual in unison Study Guide