Before
you begin using the Rhythm Warm-Ups, students should
have an understanding of how beats
measure time in music - see “Time=Beats.” For
more advanced Rhythm Warm-Ups, students should be introduced
to beat
divisions - see “Teaching
Beat and Rhythm Divisions.” Both
are found in the Lesson Plans.
Objectives: strengthen
focusing skills, understanding the silent beat, distinguish
patterns, developing a team atmosphere, master reading simple
to complex rhythms, understanding beat divisions, introducing
mathematical concepts of fractions, developing rhythm ensembles,
introduction and playing of percussion instruments, playing
instrumental canons/rounds, mastering three beat patterns being
played against four beat patterns.
Suggested
lesson progression:Each
step is repeated for mastery!
Identify
where there are beats and where there are rests.
While
pointing, chant the beats and whisper the rests.
Challenge
students to chant and whisper w/o pointing.
Identify
how the beats are divided (groups of four or three).
While
pointing, count the beats and “think” the
rests.
Challenge
the students to count the beats and “think” the
rests w/o pointing.
Demonstrate
a clap as a beat, and a rest as a beat with hands apart.
Students
join in as teacher
demonstrates.
While
pointing, clap the beats while chanting the beats.
Challenge
students to clap the beats w/o pointing.
While
pointing, clap beats w/o chanting beats.
Challenge
students to clap the beats w/o pointing - objective is
to “get
it right” on the first attempt.
Mark
class score on chart.
As
students become accustomed to the flow of the Rhythm
Warm-Ups, steps should be omitted to match the student’s
abilities, and eventually the Rhythm Warm-Ups will be replaced
by the
Beats or Rhythm Format for the song being read during
the class lesson.
