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Music Education
Resources by Paula Downes, a lot of music by Andrew Downes

Rhythm

On this page:
Introduction to Rhythm
Syllables and Movement
Notation 
Composition Video
What does a dot do to a note?
Triplets, Quintuplets, Sextuplets, Septuplets, 2s against 3s, 3s against 4s
Rests

The teaching ideas presented below take you through a sequence of methods, helping children to eventually learn  notation after having developed their musical ear and rhythmic sense through singing and movement, building children's musicianship in a holistic way.

I would recommend that music teachers use these ideas for Elementary, Primary School and KS3 aged children.

I would also suggest that singing teachers and choir trainers use these methods to help people to learn to sight-sing.  Some of the ideas can easily be used as warm-up exercise in choir rehearsals and will help the singers to learn the music more quickly in the long run. 

Furthermore these methods can be helpful to everyone learning a musical instrument.  All instrumentalists would benefit from being able to sight-sing, since this is the first step to being able to hear music in your head before you play, and this in turn helps you to sight-read and to play more musically.  If a pupil/student is having difficulties in this area, it is definitely worth teaching them the Kodaly syllables.

In this section of the website, you will find teaching ideas, free video demonstrations, other information which can be displayed on an interactive whiteboard, and a composition worksheet to download.


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2) taa 
Step with left foot for one beat then drag right foot forwards for the other beat:

3) ta 
Walk:

4) ti ti 
Jog:

5) tika tika
Run:

6) ti tika 
Big step on left foot, two smaller steps, then big step on right foot, two smaller steps.  Move arms in the direction of the big steps:

7) tika ti 
Start on left foot, two small steps then a big step etc.  Move arms in the direction of the big step:

8) tumti
Step with left foot on the first note, bring right foot forwards to left foot on the second note.  Lift arms on longer note, drop them on shorter note:

9) timka 
Gallop pretending you are holding reigns:

10) syncopa 
Big step on left foot, two small steps (right then left), big step on right foot, two small steps (left then right).  Move your arms in the same direction as your body:

11) tiroli
Run on tiptoes, changing the direction of arms every three notes:

12) Hippopotamus
Run on tiptoes, changing the direction of arms every five notes:

13) Pocotaceptl
Slap this on your legs, stressing the first of every six:

14) Elephants walking softly
Run like a soft elephant, changing the direction of trunk every seven notes:

Further Activities
Now divide the class into groups and get each group to perform a different pattern on the spot.  Get them to perform them all at the same time, phasing them in and out, changing each group’s pattern until they have all had a go at them all.  Change the dynamics by holding your hands high and low, gradually or suddenly getting higher or lower.

Next, get them to perform lots of patterns together in small groups so they have to be independent.  Perhaps ask them to produce a composition based on a train journey or a machine.  The tempo could change as they go through their piece.

Finally, pupils can compose their own piece, putting a combination of the different patterns together.

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14Save

Here is an extended version:

Beaming
The tails of quavers/eighth notes, semiquavers/sixteenth notes, demi-semiquavers/thirty-second notes and hemi-demi-semiquavers/sixty-fourth notes can be linked together with beams.  This makes it clearer to see where the beat is.

A dotted note is often paired with the note worth the same as the dot:

If you want to perform duplets against triplets, it is helpful to say  the following as you play:

If you want to perform fours against threes, it is helpful to say the following as you play:

Quintuplets are five notes in the space of four:

Sextuplets are six notes in the space of four notes:

Septuplets are seven notes in the space of four in simple time, or in the space of six in compound time:

Coming soon - a downloadable 'Musical Maths' Worksheet


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Music Education
Resources by Paula Downes, a lot of music by Andrew Downes

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