With a Little Help from My Friends
The Beatles
Alternative embedded performance: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr — With A Little Help From My Friends, live in 2009. The preferred recording remains linked on YouTube.
First listen
Listen once without writing. What do you notice?
Listen closely
1 STRUCTUREHow can you tell the verse and chorus apart?
Sentence stemThe verse sounds ___, while the chorus sounds ___.
Vocabulary
- verse
- chorus
- repeated
- contrasting
2 TEXTUREHow do the lead and backing voices work together?
Sentence stemThe lead voice ___ and the backing voices ___.
Vocabulary
- sings alone
- answers
- joins in
- sings together
3 DYNAMICSWhich section sounds strongest?
Sentence stemThe ___ sounds strongest.
Vocabulary
- verse
- chorus
- beginning
- ending
4 PULSEHow easy is it to keep the beat through the verse and chorus?
Sentence stemThe pulse is ___ during ___.
Vocabulary
- steady
- clear
- strong
- the verse
- the chorus
5 TIMBREWhich sounds help you recognise the band?
Sentence stemI recognise the sound of ___.
Vocabulary
- lead voice
- backing voices
- guitar
- organ
- drums
How does this piece make you feel?
There is no right or wrong answer. Which words match your response?
calmexcitedhopefulcuriousjoyfulpowerfulpeacefultensedreamybravethoughtfulenergeticmysteriouscomfortedrestlessproudsadsurprisedupliftedfocused
Music through time
1967 · Pop / rock
- Medieval500–1400
- Baroque1600–1750
- Classical1750–1820
- Romantic1820–1900
- 20th century1900–2000
- Contemporary2000–present