(RN) Rhythmic Notation Module Overview

Rhythmic Notation

02_musicnotes.pngThe first musical stimulus anyone reacts to is rhythm. Initially, we perceive how music is organized in time, and how musical elements are organized rhythmically in relation to each other. In this module, we will learn about the duration of music notes and rests as well as how to write these durations in music. We will also begin work on rhythmic identification and rhythmic composition, both very important skills for a musician.

Essential Questions

  • How do you determine note duration in music?
  • How do you determine rest duration in music?
  • What does a beam do in music notation?
  • What do dots and ties do in music notation?
  • How do you identify rhythms?
  • How do you compose rhythms?

Key Terms

  1. Beam - is a horizontal or diagonal line used to connect multiple consecutive notes.
  2. Dot - increases the duration of the basic note by half of its original value.
  3. Eighth Note - is a note represented by a filled-in oval note head with a stem and one flag and its length is equal to 1/2 beat in 4/4 time.
  4. Eighth Rest - is an interval of silence for 1/2 beat in 4/4 time.
  5. Half Note - is a note represented by a hollow oval note head with a stem and its length is equal to 2 beats in 4/4 time.
  6. Half Rest - is an interval of silence for 2 beats in 4/4 time.
  7. Quarter Note - is a note represented by a filled-in oval note head with a stem and its length is equal to 1 beat in 4/4 time.
  8. Quarter Rest - is an interval of silence for 1 beat in 4/4 time.
  9. Rhythmic Dictation - the skill of recognizing rhythms aurally.
  10. Sixteenth Note - is a note represented by a filled-in oval note head with a stem and two flags and its length is equal to 1/2 an eighth note value in 4/4 time.
  11. Sixteenth Rest - is an interval of silence for 1/2 an eighth note beat in 4/4 time.
  12. Tie - is a curved line connecting the heads of two notes or more of the same pitch and name combining the note values.
  13. Whole note - is a note represented by a hollow oval note head with no stem and its length is equal to four beats in 4/4 time.
  14. Whole Rest - is an interval of silence for 4 beats in 4/4 time. A whole rest is the same length as the number of beats in the measure

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION