Submitted by Sue Michiels, Los Angeles, California

Idea posted July 28, 2003

I have received some questions about how I prepare my students for learning rhythmic notation, so here it is in a nutshell:

My timetable of activities for teaching rhythms:

  1. Children enter the room to the rhythm slo-w, slo-w, walk walk walk walk, moving their feet to the rhythm.
  2. Do slo-w, slo-w with the feet and clap or tap walk, walk, walk, walk with hands at the same time.
  3. Add tip-toe, tip-toe, tip-toe, tip-toe rhythm to number one.
  4. Divide the class into three groups: slo-w, tiptoe, and walk, giving each group a chance to maintain one rhythm. Then rotate the rhythms between the groups.
  5. Develop a round with the three groups... slo-w, slo-w, walk, walk, walk, walk, tip- toe, tip-toe, tip-toe, tip-toe.
  6. Divide the class into four groups; add slee-ee-ee-eep.
  7. Develop a round using the four rhythms.
  8. Introduce the written signs when appropriate, age wise. I have 15 sets of flash cards made with Avery black circle labels, notes made out of pipecleaners, and I use my Dracula Game Master Cards for visual and tactile reinforcement.
  9. I make a torn construction paper chart, in front of the children and with their help, to show the fractions with the notation on the fraction.
  10. Play the Dracula Crazy Scary Bingo Game first a few times, saying the tip-toe, walk, etc. Then move on to saying four quarter notes, etc.
  11. Introduce the dotted quarter note: wal-k
  12. Work out all the permutations in a two beat rhythm on paper/whiteboards/chalk board, then move on to three beat rhythms, then four beat rhythms. I use my "General Rhythms" Flash Cards sets one and two.
  13. Teach the rest signs for whole, half, quarter, and eighth, then use the "General Rhythms" set three, which has four beat rhythms including rests.