Exploring Tone, Texture, and Timbre

5th Gradeβ€’30 minutesβ€’MU:Cr2.1.5a Demonstrate selected and developed musical ideas for improvisations, arrangements, or compositions to express intent, and explain connection to purpose and context. MU:Cr2.1.5.b Document personal rhy

Learning Objective

I can describe how tone, texture, and timbre create different sounds in music.

Key Concepts

Texture in music refers to how sound is organized in a piece.

A monophonic texture has one sound, while a polyphonic texture has multiple lines imitating each other.

Homophonic textures are organized vertically with chords, while polyphonic textures have lines moving horizontally.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 3 practice questions to reinforce learning.

View questions preview

1. Imagine you hear a song with only one person singing a melody. What word describes the texture of this music?

2. Describe the difference between a 'thick' and a 'thin' texture in music. Give an example of when you might hear each one.

3. Explain how a homophonic texture is different from a polyphonic texture. How are the musical lines organized in each?

Educational Video

What is Texture? - Music Theory

Music Matters

Create Your Own Lesson

Generate a custom lesson plan like this one in minutes with Insta~Lesson