- Definition
An ostinato is a musical pattern, either a rhythm or a tune, that repeats over and over again throughout a song. Think of it like a catchy, repeating background beat or melody.
While you sing 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,' your child claps a steady 'clap, clap, rest' pattern over and over.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: An ostinato is like the 'round and round' part of 'The Wheels on the Bus' that keeps repeating while the verses change.
Ask your child: Can you make a clapping pattern we can repeat over and over while we sing?
Common mix-up: Kids may confuse an ostinato with the main melody. It's actually a smaller, repeating pattern that plays underneath or alongside the main tune, like a steady heartbeat.
Examples
- Tapping knees in a steady 'tap-tap-tap' pattern while chanting a nursery rhyme.
- Repeating the words 'fall down' over and over while singing 'Ring Around the Rosie.'
- Shaking a maraca with a 'shake-shake-rest' pattern throughout a song.
ostinato 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 ↗
