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I Spy Rests Notes and Clefs
I Spy is a worksheet to help students identify rests, notes and clefs by their name. How many times have students heard you refer to it in lessons, but then when you ask them what it’s called you get a blank stare? In the lesson I’ve started asking them to repeat the word or read the definition out loud. I’ll often ask a question where they have to answer with the term. Students might understand the concept but not know what it’s called. I find this to be especially true of rests. They often call it a “rest.” I’ll ask what kind of rest…. that’s when the sheepish grin happens….…
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La Folia – Variation 7 Rhythm Worksheet
I have a student working on La Folia. We got to variation 7. She worked through it and her counting the next week wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t exactly accurate. Rather than having her write the counting into her book and clutter up the page with information I wanted her to have in her head I created this worksheet. I took out the pitches and took out the bowing. This allowed her to focus on the counting alone. Working in 2 measure groups I had her write in the counting and then play it counting out loud on open D. The first run through of the 2 measure phrase we…
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Tortilla Chip Time
Here is a worksheet similar to the Chips & Salsa Time Signature Game. The difference is this Tortilla Chip Time isn’t a game, it’s just a worksheet. I might have had some fun making these tortilla chips come to life. What would your expression be if you were about to be dunked in salsa and eaten? The note values used in this worksheet are: whole notes dotted half notes half notes quarter notes whole rests half rests quater rests Download Here All the time signatures in this worksheet use a “4” on the bottom of the time signature. This is another good time to remind students that a “4…
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A Twinkle Etude – Twinklepated
I’m teaching the Boccherini Minuet from Suzuki Book 2 to several students. I give my students preview “spots” before we jump in to the whole piece. And one of the spots is the rhythm in measure 26 and measure 42. This syncopated rhythm is the first time this rhythm is found in the Suzuki literature. So for this reason I want to expose them to the rhythm before they get to it in the piece. Voila! A Twinkle Etude – Twinklepated was born. Twinklepated is a syncopated variation of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. What’s a Twinkle Etude? The concept of twinkle etudes is that students learn a new skill on an old song. In…
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Quarter Note and Half Note Worksheet
Here is a quarter note and half note worksheet. Students help Farmer McDonald get his pigs into the correct barns. They will need to be able to recognize what a quarter note looks like and that it receives one beat. They also need to know what a half note looks like and that it gets 2 beats. It is a straightforward worksheet and it will probably be pretty quick for them to complete. So, why even take the time? First, it is an activity away from the instrument. Sometimes I like to do these quick worksheets in a lesson. I don’t want to use too much lesson time but I…
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Chips & Salsa Time Signature Game
I love chips and salsa! So, combining one of my favorite foods with some music theory out comes, Chips and Salsa Time Signature Game! You can adapt this time signature game to use it with one student in a lesson or with multiple students in a group lesson. The overall point of this time signature game is to match the tortilla chip rhythm cards with the correct bowl of salsa. What you need to know to play Chips and Salsa Time Signature Game: 1. The student should understand that “A four on the bottom of means a quarter note gets one beat!” All of the time signature salsa bowls have…
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Rhythm Flashcards
Here are some printable rhythm flashcards. These flashcards use the basic rhythm values that beginning students learn. These patterns are set using 4/4 time, but that is not written on the cards. Often method books introduce rhythm by teaching the names of the note values and how many beats each note gets. There are two patterns on each page. After you print out the rhythm patterns, cut down the middle of the page to create individual cards. I like to print these on card stock so that the flashcards hold up better. How to the Flashcards in a Lesson Students can clap each card and say the names of the note…
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How to Draw Quarter Notes
Here is a worksheet on how to draw quarter notes. It’s perfect for young students. Whether the student is learning to play an instrument or just exploring music, his worksheet is perfect for ages 4-6. My young students are just getting ready to enter kindergarten, so their writing and small muscle skills are still developing. These notes are large and the young student can trace quarter notes. The notes are drawn in dot to dot. Students also learn how to draw quarter note stems going up and down. First students trace 5 quarter notes with stems going up. Trace the circle. Color in the circle. Trace the stem. Then, they…
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Swamp Rhythm Memory Game
I loved to play the game “Memory” as a kid. So I thought I would create a rhythm memory game with a swamp theme for my students. Growing up we had a couple different versions, but the one I remember best was animal memory. There was an animal on each card, and one animal was a picture of the full grown animal. While on another card was a picture of a baby animal. The players set all the cards out face down, and then would take turns turning over two cards. Your goal was to turn over the full grown animal and its baby animal on the same turn. If…
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Turkey Dance – Rhythm Worksheet
It’s a great time of year to do a Turkey Dance – Rhythm Worksheet. Here is a new seasonal rhythm worksheet to send home with your students to review. Many students travel during this time of year. So if your students are traveling over the holiday, here is a worksheet that they can take with them even if they can’t take their instrument. It will be a simple and quick review away from the instrument. They will connect the dancing turkey to the turkey on the platter. Match the note with the note value. I haven’t specified what time signature. I am assuming we are in 4/4 time with the…
