2. Learning Objectives
Understand the meaning of the word
drone
Analyse how drones act as simple
harmony in a range of music
Use drones as the basis for a simple
composition
3. Watch Achany Glen
Where does this music come from?
When was it written?
Apart from the melody, what else can you
hear?
Understand the meaning of the word
drone
4. How Bagpipes Work
Drone pipes
Blow here
Store the air here
Squeeze the air out here
Play the melody here
Understand the meaning of the word
drone
• Name two advantages of having a bag
5. Use this to answer questions on
page 13
Drones
A drone is one or two notes which are
played throughout a piece of music.
Usually there are two notes – the first and
fifth notes of the scale. Drones act as a
basic form of harmony and can give music
a countryside feel. They are used in music
throughout the world.
7. Watch other examples of
drones
Massed pipes at Edinburgh
Bulgarian pipes
Chinese drones (watch the hands!)
Homemade bagpipe (strange man!)
8. Review
Fill in the gaps with words from the box below.
A _____ is ____ notes which play continually
throughout a piece of music. The notes used are
normally the ______ and ______ notes of the
scale. Drones are a basic form of ________ and
give the music a ___________ feel.
two first drone countryside harmony fifth
Analyse how drones act as simple
harmony in a range of music
9. Composition Task
F# C#
.Make up a drone pattern using F# and C# as low notes on the
keyboard.
•.Add a melody above this, using only the black notes.
•.You can either do this as a partner activity, with one person
playing the drone and the other doing the melody, or you can take
turns with your partner and make up a solo: if so, your left hand Remember – only use
should play the drone and your right hand should play the melody. the black notes!
•.If you want more of a challenge, use a different key note. Your
left hand should be notes 1 and 5 of the scale and your
pentatonic melody should use notes 1,2,3,5 and 6.
•.Scottish melodies often use a rhythm called a Scotch snap:
Use drones as the basis for a simple
composition
