Music reading basics: Rhythm and Counting Unit 2 Music reading basics: Rhythm and Counting

Lesson Hints If you find a concept too difficult please don’t get discouraged. Remember that music reading is a skill and will take a lot of practice. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns a long the way.

Overview In this lesson you will  begin to develop skills needed to successfully read music. This lesson will involve counting rhythms in simple and compound meters. You will also be provided with more "Music Terms to Know"

Objectives Count Rhythms in the following meters: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 and 6/8 Define  the following terms: simple meter, compound meter, time signature, bar line,  allegro, moderato, largo, grave, Presto, Andante, Tempo, measure, meter.

Lets Review: Do you remember this? Quarter note and quarter rest 1 Beat Half note and half rest 2 Beats Dotted half note and dotted half rest 3 Beats Whole note and whole rest 4 Beats Eighth note and eighth rest ½ Beat Sixteenth note and sixteenth rest ¼ Beat

Tempo and an Italian lesson… This is music class right Tempo and an Italian lesson… This is music class right? “Music Terms to know” Tempo- Speed of Music Terms in order of Speed Presto- Very fast Allegro- Cheerful, Fast Andante- Walking pace Moderato- Moderate tempo Largo- Large, Broad, Slow Grave- Very slow

How exactly does the beat go on? “Music Terms to Know” Meter- is organized by a continuing pattern of beats. Measure “bar”- is a single group of beats within a metric pattern Bar Line- Dividing line between measures Time Signature- Identifies the meter of a piece. This lets the performer know how many beats per measure and how many beats a given note receives. This is placed at the beginning of the staff.

Parts of the Staff MEASURE TIME SIGNATURE CLEF BAR LINE

Time Signatures

Simple Vs. Compound Meter In Simple meter all of your notes can be subdivided into 2 different notes. The top numbers will usually be 2,3, and 4 In Compound meter all of the notes can be subdivided into 3 different notes. The top number will usually be 6,9. and 12.

Counting Trees Simple Meter Compound Meter

I’ve Got Rhythm… We will see eh? We are going to begin counting following these steps Establish the tempo Feel the beat Count Lets try it together… We are going to count two complete measures of 4/4 time.

Counting: Simple Meter We are going to count the entire counting tree in 4/4 meter.

Are you keeping up? If you are having problems don’t panic! There will be plenty of opportunities for practice. We are going to count compound meters now. You will notice that it is not too much different than simple meter.

Counting: Compound Meters We are going to count the entire counting tree in 6/8 meter.

Practice time! Practice counting the following examples: Click on the sound icon to hear the correct counts. Remember the top number of the time signature is the note that fills the measure completely.

Count the following Rhythms

Music Terms to Know simple meter compound meter time signature bar line allegro moderato largo grave Presto Andante Tempo measure meter

Congratulations you have completed unit 2. Please complete the drill and practice exercise in the access tab of the course. You may review this presentation as many times as you need to.