Exploring Reggae and Syncopation

New resources are being developed for this unit and will appear soon.

Please see the older-style Musical Contexts “Offbeat” unit below for resources. 

Offbeat Knowledge Organiser

This unit begins by exploring Reggae music and culture it comes from.  After exploring the origins of Reggae music as a one of several different styles of Caribbean music, pupils learn about the importance of bass lines in Reggae music and how offbeat chords are a key feature of music in this genre. 

Pupils explore the strong and weak beats of the bar, Syncopation and the effect that this has on Reggae music before looking at how “fragmented” melodic parts can be used as bass line riffs and melodic hooks. 

Pupils look at the famous Reggae musician, Bob Marley and his influence on Rastafarianism to a worldwide audience.

Pupils explore the different textural layers which make up Reggae music before exploring the different themes used in traditional Reggae lyrics and using their skills, knowledge and understanding, take a well-known melody or song and arrange it in a “Reggae style”. 

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This unit explores reggae music and the culture it comes from.  After exploring the origins of reggae music as one of a number of different styles of Caribbean music, pupils learn about the importance of bass lines in reggae music and how offbeat chords are a key feature of music of this genre.  Pupils explore the strong and weak beats of the bar, syncopation and the effect that this has on reggae music, before looking at how “fragmented” melodic parts can be used as bass line riffs and melodic hooks.  Pupils look at the famous reggae musician, Bob Marley and his influence on Rastafarianism to a worldwide audience through the lyrics of reggae songs and explore the different textural layers which make up reggae music

Musical Contexts Legacy Secondary/KS3 Unit - Offbeat

Exploring  Reggae & Syncopation

Learning, Listening, Composing & Evaluating Activities

Performing Activities - Songs & Scores

Starter & Plenary Activities

Supporting Activities - Cover & Homework