1. Review – what do we know already?
We can identify musical symbols:
Staff with 5 lines, 4 spaces
Treble clef
Bass clef
Note head, stem, beam, flag
Bar line, double bar line, ending double bar line

2. Review – what do we know already?
We know the musical alphabet:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
We can identify pitches according to their location on the staff
Treble or bass clef?
Line or space?
Use the right tricks:
Treble: EGBDF, FACE
Bass: GBDFA, ACEG
Notes ascending – follow alpha in order
Notes descending – follow alpha backwards

3. Review – what do we know already?
We can identify the relative length of a pitch based upon its attributes:
We know when to use:
Stems up vs. stems down
Flags vs. beams

4. Review – what do we know already?
Solfege is our friend!
If we can identify Do, we can sing any melody.

5. Review – time signatures
More About Rhythm
Rests
Tempo
Review – time signatures
Showing the beat
Dotted rhythms
Ties

6. How can I use music to demonstrate silence?
Rests
For every kind of note, there is an equivalent rest.

7. Practice
Draw and label 4 of each of the following rests

8. Review – Time Signatures
Discuss: what do these numbers mean in a time signature?
Top # = ______________________
Bottom # = _____________________
Example:

9. Time Signatures: Top # = the number of beats or pulses per measure…
Bottom # = what kind of note gets one beat
Think in fractions:
If 2 is the bottom # in a time signature, then your half note gets one beat.
If 4 is the bottom #.... The quarter note gets one beat.
Etc.

10. Time Signatures
Notice formatting/how each fits on the staff.

11. Tempo
The relative speed of a pulse in a piece of music is called its tempo.
Plural: tempi
Two ways:
Italian, German, English
Numerical, BPM = beats per minute

12. When composing…
Tempo distinguished at the start of each piece, or at the start of each major section.
Occasionally, it is the title of a piece or one movement of the piece.
Without these symbols, there is no other way to express how fast or slow a piece should be performed.

13. Practice
Blue books – clap and count rhythm practice (no rests, ties or dots)
Let’s vary the tempo

14. When notating… Remember that rhythm is organized into beats
Each beat should be clearly visible. Beam 8th and 16th notes accordingly.
Bad:
Better:

15. Other kinds of meter…
Why do we count to 4 in 4/4, to 3 in ¾, but only to 2 in 6/8?

16. Simple Meter vs. Compound Meter
Simple meter: Each beat is divided into 2 subdivisions 4/4, ¾, 2/4, common, cut
Compound meter: Each beat is divided into 3 subdivisions = microbeats In 6/8, there are 6 microbeats. We feel the larger macrobeat, each grouping of 3. So, there are 6 microbeats, but 2 macrobeats

17. Beam to illustrate the beat in compound meter:
Bad:
Better:

18. Practice – Rhythmic Dictation
Fresh piece of manuscript paper
4 examples
Each note on C
Example 1: 4/4 time, 2 measures, treble clef
Example 2: ¾ time, 2 measures, treble clef
Example 3: 6/8 time, 2 measures, bass clef
Example 4: 2/2 time, 2 measures, bass clef

19. More intricate rhythms: Dotted rhythms
Dot = increase a note’s value by 50%
You can place a dot next to any kind of note OR rest.
Any rhythm that includes a dot is known as a dotted rhythm.

20. Practice One one staff, draw one of each of the following:
Sixteenth note, half note, whole note, eighth note, quarter note
Below each note, write its duration in beats
On the staff below, in line with your first set of drawings, draw the exact same notes, but put a dot next to each.
Below each dotted note, write its duration in beats
Check with your neighbor.

21. What if I want a pitch to last for more beats than a measure will allow?
Ties allow the reader to still keep rhythm/pulse/beats organized, but perform longer sounds.
A tie informs the player to perform the two pitches tied together for the sum of their durations.
Ties can only connect identical pitches.
Ties can be found within measures and/or across bar lines. They perform the same function, either way.
We don’t tie rests. There’s no need.

22. What’s the difference between a tie and a slur? They look the same!
Slurs are symbols of articulation. They connect different pitches, and tell the player to perform the pitches in one motion.
Ties are symbols of rhythm. They connect identical pitches, and tell the player to hold for their total duration
So, yes. They look the same. But they’re not the same.
If you don’t know what a slur is, you don’t have to worry about it until later on when we discuss articulation.

23. Practice
Blue books – examples with rests, ties, and dots.

24. Practice
On your own, on a piece of paper to be submitted, compose a rhythmic example that has all of the following:
4 measures long
Treble or bass clef
Choose one meter: 3/4, 4/4 (common time), 6/8, or 2/2 (cut time)
End with a double bar line
Write all notes on the same line or space.
Include BOTH notes and rests: choose from sixteenth through whole
Use at least one tie
Use at least one dotted rhythm.
When you are finished, you will need to trade with the person next to you and perform his/her rhythm.