Learning Note Names With Connected Blocks

I have some visually impaired students. The class consists of students up through third grade, some of whom are totally blind. When I teach them about rhythm, we use connecting blocks. (All blocks have to be the same exact shape.) I give the kids four sets of four connected blocks. I tell them that the connected blocks equal one beat, and that (in this case) there are four beats in a measure.

We begin with the first set of four connected blocks, which equal a quarter note (ta). Then we divide that in half. Now we are looking at two and two, which are our eighth notes (ti-ti). If I take all four of them apart and put them in a row (not connected) then I have sixteenth notes (tic-a-tic-a).

We practice with the first set of blocks until they get it down and then move on. Gradually the kids get to the point where they can feel the rhythms as well as the beat. I call out a rhythm and the students put all their blocks in that order. They catch on fast and love to do this activity.

For teaching the staff note names, we hold up our hands. The fingers are the staff five lines and the spaces in between the fingers are the spaces in between the staff lines. If I say, "The note on the third line." students can reply with the note name or they can give the solfège name.