INTRODUCTION Basics in Rhythm contains nine units of graduated shythm exercises beginning with simple whole and half note studies and progressing through complex changing:meter exercises. The rhythm "key", which begins each study, presents important rhythmic material and should be mastered before proceeding to the following exercise. Practice METHOD The rhythm exercises in this book are to be clapped and the syllables counted out loud. By counting out loud, the student will develop a system of “rhythmesyllable association”. This system will enable the student to read thythms at ht (regardless of the context or historical-style period). Repeat each measure of the rhythm “key” several times, or until mastered, before playing the rhythm exercise, FUNDAMENTALS OF RHYTHM Become familiar with the following fundamentals of rhythm. Mastery of the counting method through diligent practice will help the student to improve music reading skills. Nore Values AND RESTS Notes | Names Notes | Names | Rests = Whole = | Dotted Whole |=. a Half = | Boned Halt |= 7] Quarter y "J. | Potted Quarter |} dW) Eighth 1 d__| Potted Fighth | > [3 (FD sixteenth 7 J. [Dotted Sixteenth) — JED] thirtrsecond | 7 KA] tniPEEona | + Adot after a note or rest adds half of the value of the note/rest it follows. mame: din d od dedid +A second dot alter a note or rest adds half of the value of the first dot. wari duadtded — diededid * Alie (curved line) connects two or more notes of the same pitch. Do not play (clap) the second note ofa te, we u TIME SIGNATURES Most music js conveniently organized into measures (groups of beats) which are marked off by vertical bar lines. Double bar lines are used at the end of a large section of music or at the conclusion of a comp ats Terie? *Attime signature consists of either two numbers arranged vertically or some other symbol. The fop number tells how many counts or beats there are in each measure; any number may be used. The bottom number tells what kind of note value gets one count; only the following numbers may be used: to 2d ad 8d wd sed * In simple time the beat unit is divisible by two. For example, 3, 4 and so on. The symbol for 4 time or common time is ©. The symbol for & time or cut lime is & + In compound time the beat unit is divisible by three. For example, when §, 2 and lime signatures are used with fast tempos, the dotted quarter note gels one count. (When §, 8 and # time signatures are used with slow tempos, the eighth note gets one count.)Countinc MetHop © When the quarter note receives one count (%,3,4,2, etc.), use the following measure-wise counting method 47 Id oat (pronounced: one and two and three and four and): Tezesadre Teese sels a ae ® For the four-fold division of the beat (sixteenth notes) 222 873 «8 4 e and its variations, use 1 e & a (pronounced: one ee and a) m mM J Te aa 2@ asd & 4 6 * For the three-fold division of the beat and its variations, use 123,456 (§, 8, % time when the dotted quarter note receives one count} Bd. d + 2 3 5 6 Te2esesasace 1,?| ° (2a d4 mh om 6 @ b] e * The following examples illustrate how to count in time signatures that use the half note or eighth note as the beat unit: ld Wd LT $0 |S MeD Meu fend ed Ulead ao | tea eee Slow tempo § Wd £9"9 rrr frit! 28384 ESE + A rhythm triplet occurs in masic when three td 4 He equal note values replace two equal notevaties: | J} JT) Yd) SDT Seg eee sins 3 ® In fast tempos, triplets can be counted but they must be kept equal woomtcotee dd) 174 win IIT TD oe 7 My dnd IE earea ear aaUNIT 1 Note AND Rest VALUES: Whole, half, quarter, eighth oo J d METERS: ~ gga RayTHo Key 1 | Tada = . 123 4 423.4 ga a ee | Remember: Repeat each measure several times or until mastered. Exercise 1 |