Rhythm and note value games and exercises

(source:  The Piano Podcast with Mario Ajero accessed on 01/04/09).  

Rhythm Games

A video made by these students in the above video provides a demonstration of games to help pupils increase their rhythmic awareness and keep their attention.  These students are from the Stephen F. Austin State University. You can find more information on the SFAS University by clicking <here>.

1.  Counting Semibreve

A semibreve is also called a whole note (1).

Exercise One: Counting Numbers

For this exercise you will count four beats. The four beats are worth 1/4th each, so when you add up all four notes it will equal one whole note (semibreve). Count slowly at an even pace as you say out loud one, two, three, four

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

 Exercise Two: Clapping

This diagram has a crotchet/quarter note above each number. In addition to counting, you will also clap for each note that you see. For each note you see, count and clap at the same time. There are still four numbers. However, you will see that there are not notes directly above numbers two to four. You will only clap when you see a note. However, you still need to count out loud from one to four.

To do this exercise, you will clap once as you say out loud ‘one’. Then you will keep your hands together (do not clap again) as you say ‘two’. Without clapping say ‘three’. Again without clapping say ‘four’. Now you have finished counting for a whole note that is worth four quarter notes.

 

2.  Rhythm – Counting Crotchets

 

A crotchet is also referred to as a quarter note (1/4).Exercise One: Counting Numbers

For this exercise you will count four beats and imagine that each beat you count is one crotchet/quarter note. Count slowly at an even pace as you say out loud one, two, three, four.

 

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Exercise Two: Clapping Notes

 

This diagram has a crotchet/quarter note above each number. In addition to counting, you will also clap for each note that you see.For each note you see, count and clap at the same time. For example, for the first note clap once and at the same time say out loud ‘one’. For the second note, clap once and say out loud ‘two’. For the third note clap once again and say out loud ‘three’. For the fourth note, clap once and say out loud ‘four’. Now repeat from one to four for the next set of notes.

 

3. Counting Quavers (Eighth notes)