UNIT 1:

Rhythm

Table of Contents
Introduction 3

Review 4

Lesson 1: Notes and Rests 5

Learning Targets 5
Let’s Warm Up! 5
Learn about It! 6
Check Your Understanding 9
Challenge Yourself! 10
Let’s Jam! 11

Lesson 2: Meter 12
Learning Targets 12
Let’s Warm Up! 12
Learn about It! 13
Check Your Understanding 15
Challenge Yourself! 16
Let’s Jam! 17

Lesson 3: Duple Meter and 2/4 Time Signature 17

Learning Targets 17
Let’s Warm Up! 17
Learn about It! 18
Check Your Understanding 21
Challenge Yourself! 21
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 Let’s Jam! 23

Lesson 4: Triple Meter and 3/4 Time Signature 23

Learning Targets 23
Let’s Warm Up! 23
Learn about It! 24
Check Your Understanding 26
Challenge Yourself! 27
Let’s Jam! 28

Lesson 5: Quadruple Meter and 4/4 Time Signature 28

Learning Targets 28
Let’s Warm Up! 28
Learn about It! 29
Check Your Understanding 31
Challenge Yourself! 31
Let’s Jam! 32

Did You Know? 33

Web Links 33

Performance Task 33

Self-Check 35

Wrap Up 35

Bibliography 36

Glossary 37

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GRADE 4

UNIT 1
Rhythm

Fig. 1. Drummers are important; they play the backbone of the music—the rhythm.
Photo from pixabay.com

Introduction
Listen to the things around you - the tik-tok of a clock, the footsteps of people walking or
jogging, the clink-clank of machinery, and the beating of your heart. The consistent, pulsating
sounds that you hear are examples of rhythm.
Rhythm is an important element of music. It is the element of time that we hear throughout
the duration of a song. It is a series of regular or irregular patterns in music.

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In this unit, you will have a better understanding of rhythm through identifying the different
notes and rests. You will also be introduced to the different types of meter and time
signatures.

Review

● Sound is something that we hear.

● Silence is the absence of sound.

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Lesson 1: Notes and Rests

Learning Targets

In this lesson, you should be able to:

● identify the different kinds of notes and rests; and
● learn to count the value of notes and rests.

Every piece of music that we hear is made up of smaller elements. In a written musical piece,
we see marks and symbols. What are these marks and symbols? What do these marks
and symbols correspond to? In this lesson, we will be learning about the most basic marks
and symbols used in music, notes and rests.

Let’s Warm Up!

Put your hand on your chest. Feel your heartbeat. Once you can feel your heartbeat, put your
hand on a table or surface, and try to follow the beat that you hear by tapping. After tapping
to the beat of your heart, remove your hand from your chest while continuing to tap the beat
using the other hand. After some time, feel your heartbeat again. Were you able to maintain
the beat?

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 Learn about It!

Notes
In music, a note is a tadpole-shaped mark that we see on a music sheet. A note is made up of
a head, a stem, and a tail. A note tells us how high or low, and how long a sound should be.

There are many types of notes. Each type of note looks different. Some notes do not have a
stem or a tail while some have more than one tail.
The note with the biggest value is called whole note. It has a duration of four counts.
The note with the next biggest value is the half note. It has a duration of two counts.
Next is the quarter note, which has a duration of one count, followed by the eighth note
which has a duration of a half count, and the sixteenth note, which has a duration of a
quarter count.

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The table below will show you the types of notes, their appearance, and their duration.

Try It Yourself

Look at an excerpt of Anton Diabelli's composition below. How many notes can you spot? Can
you count them? How many half notes are in the picture? Quarter notes? Eighth notes? Are
there symbols that are new to you?

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Rests
The rest is the opposite of the note. It represents the duration of a pause or stop. A rest has
no sound.
The table below shows us what the different rests look like and how many counts they
receive.

Try It Yourself

Look at the excerpt of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus below. Do you see some rests? Count the
rests and identify if the rests are whole rests, half rests, quarter rests, eighth rests, or
sixteenth rest.

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 Try it Yourself

Look at the shape of the rests in the table above. What do they look like? Do they look like
things you see in your own house? Describe the whole rest, half rest, quarter rest, eighth
rest, and sixteenth rest in your own words.

Whole Rest ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Half Rest ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Quarter Rest __________________________________________________________________________________________
Eighth Rest ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Sixteenth Rest ________________________________________________________________________________________

Check Your Understanding

A. Fill in the blank.

1. An __________ note has a duration of ½ count.
2. A __________ rest has a duration of 4 counts.
3. A __________ note has a duration of a count.
4. A __________ note has a duration of ¼ count.
5. An __________ rest has a duration of ½ count.
6. A __________ rest looks like a hat.
7. A __________ note has a stem and a blackened head. It does not have a tail.
8. A __________ note is only a head with a white center.
9. A __________ note has a head, a stem, and a single tail.
10. __________ and __________ are important symbols that tell us the duration of
sounds and silences in music.

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 Challenge Yourself!
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the correct answer.
1. Sandy holds one quarter note in her left hand and another quarter note in her right
hand. If she combines the notes in her hands, how many counts can she get?
a. 4 counts
b. 3 and ½ counts
c. None
d. 2 counts
2. Mandy saw a whole note and a half note on her music sheet. If she would add the
notes, how many counts would she get?
a. 7 counts
b. 6 counts
c. 5 counts
d. 4 counts
3. A __________ is the opposite of a note. It tells us the duration of a pause or silence.
a. sixteenth note
b. rest
c. whole rest
d. whole note
4. Marki sees a rest in his notebook. He finds it familiar but cannot name the rest he sees.
The rest he sees looks like number seven but with two tails. What is this rest?
a. sixteenth rest
b. half rest
c. whole note
d. whole rest
5. Mila is watching her cousin play the violin. She observes that her cousin does not play
continuously. Her cousin sometimes takes short pauses before continuing to play. What
could these short pauses be?
a. rests
b. comfort
c. notes
d. rhythm

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 Let’s Jam!

1. Look at the rests and notes and choose a favorite.

2. After picking your favorite note or rest, draw five on sheet of oslo paper. You may also
color the notes and rests or design them by drawing faces Be creative!
3. Present your artwork in class. Tell the class your favorite notes, their duration, as well
as their features/characteristics.

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Lesson 2: Meter

Learning Targets

In this lesson, you should be able to:

● define meter;
● identify the different kinds of meter; and
● organize notes and rests in simple meters.

Let’s Warm Up!

Look at the figure below. What do you see? The figure below has notes in it. What kinds of
notes do you see?
Let’s try to clap the notes in the figure below. First, count aloud, from 1 to 4. One, two, three,
four. Again. One, two, three, four. Now, while counting aloud, clap your hands to the bold
numbers.

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 Learn about It!

In the example above, there are four beats in every measure. This regular, repeating
number of beats throughout the duration of a song is called its meter. The beats in a meter
can be two, three, or four.

If there are two beats in a measure, then it is counted as:

One, two, one, two, one, two, and so on...
If there are three beats in a measure, it is counted as:
One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three, and so on…
If there are four beats in a measure, it is counted as:
One, two, three four, one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, and so on…

Notice that the first beats are in bold. This is because the first beats in a measure are strong
beats. You sing/clap them louder than other beats.

Try It Yourself
Practice the way a meter is counted and count louder on the first beat of the measure.
Practice for three to five times and find a partner or a group to count with. Remember to
maintain a steady beat.

One, two | one, two | one, two | (repeat 4 times)

One, two, three | one, two, three | one, two, three | (repeat 4 times)
One, two, three, four | one, two, three, four | one, two, three, four |
(repeat 4 times)

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 Try It Yourself

Listen to the songs Magtanim ay Di Biro and Mary Had a Little Lamb. After listening to the
songs, count to the beats of the song in one, two or one, two, three, four. Listen carefully to
the strong beats. Which song has two counts? Which song has four counts?

Playing the hand game Nanay Tatay

Have you ever played the game Nanay Tatay? Are you familiar with it? Nanay Tatay is a hand
game you play with a partner or a group. It can be played really fast or really slow. If during
the game you make a mistake, your playmate gets to pinch your earlobes.

Nanay Tatay's meter has two counts. Throughout the chant, you can count one, two, one, two.

Try it Yourself
Clap the notes of Nanay Tatay.

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 Check Your Understanding
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer. Look for the answer in the word box below.

1. __________ is the regular, repeating number of beats.

2. The __________ in a meter can be two, three, or four.
3. The first beat in every measure is a __________ beat.
4. The chant Nanay Tatay has __________ in a measure.
5. If there are two counts in a measure, then it is counted as __________.
6. A measure with four counts has __________ beats.
7. A measure with three beats has __________ counts.
8. The children’s song Mary Had a Little Lamb has __________ per measure.
9. A measure with two counts has __________ beats.
10. __________ is the count if a measure has three beats.

Challenge Yourself!
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the correct answer.
1. In class, you listened to the song Bahay Kubo. How many counts per measure are there
in the song Bahay Kubo?
a. 4 counts
b. 3 counts
c. 2 counts
d. None

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2. Mary loves playing Nanay Tatay with Abby. Nanay Tatay has two counts in a measure.
On which count should the strong beat be?
a. first
b. second
c. third
d. fourth
3. Edward loves listening to classical music. While he was listening to the second
movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony, he was counting along to the music, counting
two beats per measure. How did Edward count the beats?
a. one, two
b. one, two, three, four
c. one, two
d. one, two, three, four
4. How should Mary and Abby chant Nanay Tatay?
a. Na-nay, Ta-tay
b. Na-nay, Ta-tay
c. Na-nay Ta-tay
d. Nanay, Tatay
5. How should Edward count the beats of Bahay Kubo?
a. one, two
b. one, two, three
c. one, two, three, four
d. one, two, three, four, five

Let’s Jam!

1. Look for a partner and choose a song you both like.

2. After listening to the song, determine the meter by counting the beats in each
measure of the song.
3. Now that you know the meter, assign one partner to sing the song, while the
other counts along.

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Lesson 3: Duple Meter and 2/4 Time Signature

Learning Targets

In this lesson, you should be able to:

● define duple meter;
● feel the beat of a piece of music in duple meter;
● identify strong and weak beats;
● familiarize yourself with rhythmic patterns by clapping in duple meter; and
● demonstrate the proper grouping of notes and rests in duple meter.

Let’s Warm Up!

Look at the figure below. What do you see? The figure below has notes in it,right? What kind
of notes do you see? Now, we will try to clap the notes in the figure below. First, let's count
from 1 to 2. One, two. Again. One, two. While counting, clap your hand to the bold number.

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 Learn about It!

In the example above, there are two beats in every measure. The first note we see is a half
note which has two counts, followed by two quarter notes. A quarter note has one count in
it. The example given above is in duple meter. In Duple meter, every measure has two
counts.

Try It Yourself

Let's practice how to count in duple meter. We have practiced this from the previous lesson
but let's try it again. Look for a partner or count with a group.

One, two | one, two | one, two | (repeat 4 times)

2 Time Signature is an example of duple meter. The number on the upper portion tells us
4
the number of beats per measure while the number on the lower portion tells us the kind of
note that will receive one beat.

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 Try It Yourself

Look at the illustration below. Describe how the notes are grouped. Take note of the time
signature. Clap the rhythm.

Before clapping, count aloud: one, two. Now, clap the rhythm above while counting. In the first
measure, there is a half note; how many counts does it have? In the second measure, what
notes do you see? How many counts do those have?

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 Try it Yourself

Clap the following rhythms below with a partner.

Check Your Understanding

A. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if incorrect.

1. Duple meter is a meter that has two beats per measure.

2. 2 Time Signature is an example of duple meter.
4
3. Duple meter is counted as one, two, three, one, two, three.
4. In 2 time signature, the number 2 tells us the number of beats in a measure.
4

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 5. in 2 time signature, the number 4 tells us what note will receive one beat.
4
6. Strong beats in duple meter are on the first beat.
7. A whole note can be placed in a measure with a 2 time signature.
4
8. alf note can be placed in 2 time signature.
4
9. A time signature is a marking that tells us the number of beats in a measure and
the note that will receive one beat.
10. The duple meter can be counted as one, two, three, four.

Challenge Yourself!
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following songs is in duple meter?

a. Ako ay may Lobo
b. Bahay Kubo
c. Sitsiritsit
d. Dandansoy
2. Which of the following songs is NOT in duple meter?
a. Tong-tong-tong-tong Pakitong Kitong
b. Paru-parong Bukid
c. Pamulinawen
d. Magtanim ay Di Biro
3. Sandara learned about the song Sampung Mga Daliri in her class. How is the song
Sampung Mga Daliri counted?
a. one, two
b. one, two, three, four
c. one, two
d. one, two, three, four

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 4. How is this passage counted?

a. one, two, one, two, one, two, one, two,

b. one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four
c. one, two, one, two, one, two, one, two
d. one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four
5. How is this passage counted?

a. one, two, one, two, one and two and, one

b. one, two, one, two and, one, two
c. one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four
d. one, two, three, four, five, six

Let’s Jam!
Songs in Duple Meter
1. Look for a partner.
2. Look for three to five popular songs that are in duple meter. Take note of the title of the
songs you chose.
Prove to your other classmates that the song you chose is in duple meter by counting one,
two along with the song.

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Lesson 4: Triple Meter and 3/4 Time Signature

Learning Targets

In this lesson, you should be able to:

● define triple meter;
● identify the strong and weak beats in triple meter;
● familiarize yourself with rhythmic patterns by clapping in triple meter; and
● demonstrate the proper grouping of notes and rests in triple meter.

Let’s Warm Up!

The figure below shows another type of meter. What meter do you think is in the figure
below? How were you able to come up with this?
What notes do you see? Try clapping the passage below. First, start with a preparatory
measure where you count aloud (one, two, three), then proceed with clapping the notes.
Aside from notes, what do you see?

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 Learn about It!

Notice that the passage above has three counts? The example above is an example of triple
meter. When we say triple meter, it is a meter that has three counts or three beats.
Therefore, this meter is counted as one, two, three, one, two, three. The 3 time signature is an
example of a triple meter. 4

Try It Yourself
Let's practice how triple meter is counted. Notice that the strong beats are on the first beat of
the meter. Look at the passage below and try to count triple meter while observing proper
emphasis on the strong beats.

One, two, three | one, two, three | (repeat four times)

In the 3 Time Signature, the number 3 tells us the number of beats per measure
4
while the number 4 tells us the note that will receive one beat. In this case, a quarter note will
receive one beat per measure. Look at the example in the Let's Warm Up! portion of the
lesson and identify the notes and rests. Add the values of the notes and rests for each
measure. What were you able to come up with?

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 Try It Yourself
Look at the figure below and describe how the notes and rests are grouped.

Try it Yourself
Look for a partner and clap the figure below.

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 Check Your Understanding
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
1. __________ meter is a meter with three beats.
2. __________ is a time signature that is an example triple meter.
3. In the 3 time signature, __________ is the number that tells us what note will receive
4
one beat.

4. In the 3 time signature, __________ is the number that tells us the number of beats per
4
measure.
5. __________ is how a triple meter is counted.
6. In triple meter, the strong beat is the __________ beat of the measure.

7. In the 3 time signature, there can be __________ quarter notes.

4
8. In the 3 time signature, there can be __________ half note.
4
9. There can be up to ________ sixteenth notes in a measure with a 3 time signature.
4
10. A triple meter has __________ beats in a measure.

Challenge Yourself!
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following songs has a triple meter?
a. Bahay Kubo
b. Leron Leron Sinta
c. Sitsiritsit
d. Mary Had A Little Lamb

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 2. How do you count the beats in triple meter?
a. one, two three
b. one, two, three
c. three, two, one
d. one, two three
3. Where is the strong beat in triple meter?
a. second beat and third beat
b. first beat and last beat
c. first beat and second beat
d. first beat only
4. How do you count the beats in Ako ay May Lobo?
a. one, two
b. one, two, three
c. one, two
d. one, two, three, four
5. Which of these songs is NOT an example of a triple meter?
a. Happy Birthday To You
b. Ako ay May Lobo
c. Paa, Tuhod, Balikat, Ulo
d. Lupang Hinirang

Let’s Jam!

1, 2, 3, Waltz!
1. Look for a partner.
2. Search for the definition of a waltz; Look for videos on the internet.
3. Choose a waltz you both like.
4. Upon hearing the waltz, count along with the waltz. Then, dance to it.

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Lesson 5: Quadruple Meter and 4/4 Time
Signature

Learning Targets

In this lesson, you should be able to:

● define quadruple meter;
● identify the strong and weak beats in quadruple meter;
● familiarize yourself with rhythmic patterns by clapping in quadruple meter;
● demonstrate the proper grouping of notes and rests in quadruple meter.

Let’s Warm Up!

Do you know the song Ang Tatlong Bibe? If not, search for it online and listen to the song.
Now, try to count along with the song.
How many beats are there? Are there strong beats? How many counts are there per
measure? two? three?

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 Learn about It!

The song Ang Tatlong Bibe is an example of a song with four counts: one, two, three, four. When
there is a recurring pulse of four counts in a song, it is considered to be in quadruple meter.
A measure in quadruple meter has four beats. The 4 time signature
4
is an example of a quadruple meter.

Try It Yourself

Let's learn to count in quadruple meter. Notice that the strong beats are in 1 and 3. However,
you must also understand that the first beat is stronger than the third beat.

One, two, three, four | one, two, three, four | one, two, three, four |
(repeat 4 times)

In 4 time signature, the upper number, 4, tells us the number of beats per
4
measure while the lower number, also 4, tells us what kind of note will receive one beat. In
this case, a quarter note will receive one beat.

Try It Yourself
Describe the figure below.
What do you see? Are there notes and rests? How many notes are there? How many rests?
How many counts do each of these notes get? Try to clap the rhythm.

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 Try it Yourself
Group yourselves into five, and clap the rhythm of the measures below.

Check Your Understanding

A. Write T if the statement is TRUE and F if the statement is FALSE.
1. In a quadruple meter, a measure has two beats.
2. The 3 time signature is an example of a quadruple meter.
4
3. There are four beats in a quadruple meter.
4. The strong beat in a quadruple meter is only the first beat.

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 5. One example of a quadruple meter is the 4 time signature.
4
6. A quadruple meter can be counted as one, two, three, four.
7. The 4 time signature is an example of a quadruple meter.
4
8. The strong beats of a quadruple meter are the first and third beats.
9. The note that will receive one beat in a quadruple meter is a half note.
10. The note that will receive one beat in a quadruple meter is a quarter note.

Challenge Yourself!
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following songs is in quadruple meter.
a. Bahay Kubo
b. Ako Ay May Lobo
c. Sitsiritsit
d. Ang Tatlong Bibe
2. A measure in quadruple meter can be counted as...
a. one
b. one, two, three, four
c. one, two, three, four
d. one, two, three, four
3. How many weak beats are there in a measure in quadruple meter?
a. one, two
b. four
c. three
d. two
4. Which beat in a quadruple meter is the second strongest beat?
a. first
b. second
c. third
d. fourth

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 5. How many half notes can fit in a measure in quadruple meter?
a. two
b. one
c. five
d. none

Let’s Jam!

Counting in Four
1. Look for a partner and choose three songs that you both like. The songs must be in
quadruple meter.
2. Listen to each song. While listening, count along with the music. Don't forget to put
emphasis on the first and third beats.
3. Assign one partner to sing the songs while the other counts along.

Did You Know?

Did you know that 2 , 3 , and 4 time signatures are in simple meter? A time signature is
4 4 4
considered a simple meter if the groupings of the notes are in twos.

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 Web Links
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkuqjrwlkxk

Performance Task

Happy Birthday, in 3 or 4?

Purpose:
At the end of this activity, the students should be able to:
● understand the difference between a triple and quadruple meter;
● be able to feel the pulse within themselves; and
● arrange songs in triple and quadruple meter.

Role: You are new applicants of your school choir.The activity is your final task before being
accepted into the group.

Competence: You will be applying all that you have learned about meter and time signatures
in finding out what meter is used in the Birthday Song, changing it to a different meter, and
performing it in front of the class. Basic knowledge of theory and pitch-matching is expected.

Procedure:
1. Sing the song Happy Birthday to You as a group.
2. Sing the song a second time. This time, assign half of the group to count along while the
other half sings the song.
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3. Determine the meter of the song. Is it in triple or quadruple meter?
4. Change the meter of the song by playing around with the accented syllables and note
lengths. If it is in four, change it to three, and vice versa.
5. Perform in class. Be creative! You may sing a capella or with instrumental
accompaniment. You may use costumes and props as well, or incorporate a dance
routine or a short skit.
6. After all groups have performed, you, as a class, will participate in a sharing of
observations and reflections, facilitated by your teacher.

Key Guide Questions

1. How do you usually sing the Birthday Song?

2. Did you know that there were alternative ways to sing this song?
3. Was it difficult to sing the Birthday Song in three? How about in four?
4. Why do you think is it difficult?
5. What changed in the piece when you changed the meter?

Reflective Question

1. What did you feel upon discovering that the Birthday song can be sung in both triple
and quadruple?

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Self-Check

Check I can…

Explain the meaning of meter

Differentiate between different meters

Differentiate between different time signatures

Wrap Up

Term Definition
Meter The regular, repeating pattern of pulses throughout the
duration of a song or musical piece
Notes A musical marking that determines the duration of a pitch
Rests A musical marking that determines the duration of silence

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 Bibliography

Taylor, Eric. 1999. First Steps in Music Theory. The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of
Music.

Schmeling, Paul. Berklee Music Theory Book I. Berklee Press.

Harrison, Mark. 2009. All About Music Theory: A Fun and Simple Guide in Understanding Music.
Hal Leonard.

Pilhofer, Michael and Holly Day. 2007. Music Theory for Dummies. Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Glossary

Beat is the pulse in a piece of music. It is the basic unit of time.

Meter is the regular pulse heard throughout the duration of a song or musical piece.
Notes are markings that tell us the duration of a certain pitch.
Rhythm is a regular pattern of sound and silence.
Rests are markings that tell us the duration of silence.
Time Signature is a marking that tells us the number of beats in a measure, and the kind of
note that will receive a beat.

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