- Definition
A partner song is when two separate tunes are sung at the same time and blend nicely, like singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" while someone else sings "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep." This creates a layered sound, known as polyphony.
Singing 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' at the same time as a friend sings 'Frère Jacques' creates a partner song.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A partner song is like two different train tracks running side-by-side that never crash into each other.
Ask your child: Can you hum one song while I hum the other?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a partner song is just two people singing the same song but starting at different times. A partner song uses two completely different songs that are designed to sound good together.
Examples
- Singing 'She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain' while someone else sings 'When the Saints Go Marching In.'
- A music class where half the kids sing 'This Old Man' and the other half sings 'Skip to My Lou' at the same time.
partner song 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 ↗
