Identifying and Counting Basic Rhythms in Music Notation
Lessons 009 / 010
Lessons © www.musictechteacher.com / Ms. Karen L. Garrett
Each Music Technology student in the 2nd - 5th grades will receive one 30-45 minute lesson per week. The class structure is ‘work-at-your-own-pace’ because students are not required to have any materials or music equipment to participate.
Essential Questions: What are the values of whole, half and quarter note rhythms? How do you count them? (Answers below evaluation.)
Objectives:
*Students will learn to identify and count the music rhythms in whole, half and quarter notes.
*Students will complete a short notation exercise using the rhythms learned.
*Students will complete one or more pages in the Alfred Basic Piano Library Level 1A (varies based on student level).
* (Optional or extended activities) Selected students with previous music experience may work on music selections for the Christmas program and / or the PTA Reflections program in December.
Materials:
Piano keyboards, computers, Alfred Basic Piano Library Books, music software (Noteflight) and all cables, adapters and headphones associated with electronic equipment. Internet connection. Projector for presenting rhythm patterns and interactive rhythm exercises.
Procedures:
1) Explain the concept of rhythms in music. Display the rhythm values of whole, half and quarter notes from the computer. Show rhythm patterns on our website and demonstrate how to count them. Teachers may use alternate forms of counting the notes. Choral teachers use syllables such as ‘ta-ta-titi-ta.’ Instrumental teachers use number-counting such as ‘one-two-three and-four.’
Students may clap and count rhythm patterns as shown on our website. (Music Rhythms and Rests)
Use Sibelius or Noteflight notation software with the rhythm patterns learned and let students make-up their own rhythm patterns in whole, half and quarter notes. Students should save their work. The teacher can play some of the students’ compositions for the whole class to hear using the (educator) Noteflight account.
Extension – Students in each class could try to clap and count the rhythm patterns that students made if a projector and computer are available. Also, students could try to play the rhythm patterns using various keys on the music keyboards.
2) Complete various pages in the Alfred Basic Piano Library Book 1 based on individual student progress. Make a video (digital camera) of some of the students and post it immediately using the projector for review and feedback. Younger students will be on page 22. (Understanding and playing new dynamic sign (mf = mezzo forte),
addition of another note at each end of Middle C Position, all 5 fingers are now in use, alternating hands in the same phrase.).
3) If time allows or for extended activities, students may use Sibelius software (or Noteflight software) to practice entering rhythm patterns into the computer. Noteflight software is new and will be used to create new music composition projects. Instructions for using Noteflight are posted on their website and procedures for entering notes will be introduced each week. If students are specifically using the snare drum or bass drum parts in Noteflight, they will need to play on the note ‘D’ on the computer keyboard to enter rhythms. Younger students will need assistance in using this software, especially in entering their user name and password.
4) For extra activities, students may choose to use Sibelius Groovy music software (Groovy Shapes, Groovy Jungle and Groovy City) to complete music lessons and create songs.
5) For extra activities, older music tech students will work on music compositions for the PTA Reflections contest (due the first week in December) or practice the songs for our Christmas program (to be determined from the following songs: Jingle Bells, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Carol of the Bells, Lean On Me and Ode to Joy). These activities are done on an individual basis. Students will be selected to be in the Music Tech Ensemble in late November.
Evaluation
Students successfully identify and clap rhythms in whole, half and quarter note patterns.
Students complete the assigned page (22) in the Alfred Basic Piano Library Book. (Video review)
Students (with previous experience) can use notation software to write rhythm patterns on the computer.
The teacher will observe the points above and provide feedback to the students based on their work.
Essential Questions: What are the values of whole, half and quarter note rhythms? How do you count them?
Rhythmic values are important to learn because they show you how long to play the music notes. A whole note receives 4 counts. A half note receives 2 counts and each quarter note receives 1 count. Rhythms can make music interesting and can make songs sound ‘slower or faster’ depending on how long the notes are held.
On a keyboard, you hold the key down for the number of counts that the note receives. Then you lift the note up and
play the next rhythm.
There are many music games about rhythms and counting on our website, www.musictechteacher.com. There are also exercises and worksheets that explain rhythms in detail. What kind of neat beats can you make using rhythms?
Standards:
TI:ME (Technology for Music Education)
(2) Music Production – Sequencing (Composing music using rhythm patterns)
(3) Music Notation Software (Noteflight)
(4) Technology Assisted Learning (Sibelius Groovy Music, Keyboards)
NAfME (National Association for Music Education)
(2) Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. (Alfred Piano Book Level 1A, playing rhythm patterns on the music keyboards)
(6) Listening to, analyzing and describing music (counting aloud and playing rhythm patterns, compositions in rhythm patterns).
