Submitted by Kari Safieddine, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Idea posted October 1, 2001

This is a game I created combining other teacher's ideas from the list.

  1. Write 4 different four-beat patterns on 4 different colored pieces of paper. (Red, blue, yellow, green) Tape these on the wall.
  2. Pass out a colored note card to each student. (Same colors as above).
  3. Play one of the rhythms on a drum or other instrument and ask the students holding that color of card to hold it up.
  4. The student who holds the card up first gets to come up and play the same rhythm. In the second class that I play this, I will have the students play another rhythm, but my beginning students have a hard time with this.
  5. After a few rounds the students then get in groups. Each group must have one card of each color.
  6. I play all 4 rhythms, and the students must put their cards in the correct order.
  7. After we practice this, I have each group pick a person to come and try it. That student picks a note card from me that shows what order to play. I write R,G,B,Y or other combinations. For students who I suspect will have a hard time playing, I will sing each rhythm to them before they play it.
  8. I start by only using quarter notes and rests and add new notes each time.