- Definition
Harmony is when different musical notes are played at the same time, creating a pleasing sound together.
When someone strums a guitar, they are playing several notes at once to create harmony.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Harmony is like a choir of different birds singing at the same time—the different notes blend together to create a rich, full sound.
Ask your child: When you hear a song, can you hum one of the background notes?
Common mix-up: Kids might think harmony is just the main tune of a song. Harmony is actually the other notes played or sung at the same time that make the melody sound fuller.
Examples
- A group of people singing where different voices hold different notes at the same time.
- Playing two keys on a piano at the same time that sound good together.
- The background vocals sung behind the main singer in a pop song.
harmony is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
