In this unit students should learn about the following note length values and rhythmic symbols, and become confident playing rhythms including these concepts (along with those they have already learned):
- single quavers
- quaver rests
- dotted crotchets (dotted crotchet – quaver rhythms)
- fermatas
These can be in metres relevant to this stage or any of the preceding stages.
Students should also be able to explain what a dot does to the length of a note.
Flash Cards
Our rhythm flash cards can be used to help students develop their rhythm reading skills, and can also help support other activities like composing or improvisation.
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Stage C Rhythm Cards 3 Crotchets a Bar – Notes and Rests
Different rhythm combinations using: single quavers, quaver pairs, quaver rests, crotchets, dotted crotchets, and minims, in a 3 crotchets a bar metre.
Stage C Rhythm Cards 4 Crotchets a Bar – Notes Only
Different rhythm combinations using: single quavers, quaver pairs, quavers beamed in 4s, crotchets, dotted crotchets, and minims, in a 4 crotchets a bar metre.
Stage C Rhythm Cards 4 Crotchets a Bar – Notes and Rests
Different rhythm combinations using: quaver rests, single quavers, quaver pairs, quavers beamed in 4s, crotchets, and minims, in a 4 crotchets a bar metre.
Stage C Rhythm Cards 6 Quavers a Bar – Notes Only
Different rhythmic combinations using single quavers, groups of 3 quavers (beamed), crotchets, and dotted crotchets in a 6 quavers a bar metre.
Stage C Rhythm Cards 6 Quavers a Bar – Notes and Rests
Different rhythmic combinations using quaver rests, crotchet rests, single quavers, pairs
of quavers, groups of 3 quavers (beamed), crotchets, and dotted crotchets in a 6 quavers a bar metre.
Activities
- Use our flash cards or your own to play some rhythm games with the student for example:
- Set out 2 or more flash cards and clap or play one of them. Ask the student to identify which one. Swap roles.
- Get the student to pick some flashcards (of the same metre), and then ask them to arrange them and clap them. Give the student an opportunity to rearrange their cards if they wish, then re-clap. This is a good start for a composition.
- Ask the student to play a scale in the rhythm they have selected (you may need to adjust the length).
- Connect these activities to your students’ pieces by selecting rhythms they will encounter in them.
- For 6 quavers a bar, ensure students are comfortable with the pulse first. Reinforce this by getting them to clap a pulse at different tempos before clapping the rhythm.
Worksheets
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Two worksheets introducing new note values learned in this unit: dotted crotchets, and quavers and quaver rests.
Stage C Rhythm Names and Lengths Duo
Two worksheets testing knowledge of the following note lengths and value names: single quavers, quaver rests, quaver pairs (beamed), crotchets, crotchet rests, minims, minim rests, dotted minims, semibreves, and semibreve rests.
piano TRACKS Project 