Reading and Performing Notation: Day 1

This week we began reading and performing rhythmic notation, introducing the quarter note, quarter rest, and eighth note pair on day one of our work. While some of our students remembered their note reading work from elementary school, many were learning this information for the very first time. By the end of each period, however, every class was able to identify the different notes by name, identify the value of each note in terms on the number of beats they receive, and read and perform basic rhythm patterns from notation with at least 90% accuracy! Students explored the connection between music (rhythm, specifically) and language, which helped bridge the gap between looking at notes on a page and understanding how those notes move and sound when expressed through performance. We looked at the anatomy of notes, identifying the note head, stem, flags and beams, and making an additional connection to our our own anatomy (head, torso, arms, and other body parts). By connecting note heads to syllables in language, as well as identifying each note's value in terms of the number of beats it receives, we were able to assign specific words to specific notes and begin our reading and analysis work. In the video below you will see our students collaborating in their small groups as they read and analyze the different patterns on their rhythm sheets, assign words to the different notes, and practice performing the patterns by speaking them on a steady beat. After the small group practice session, the groups took turns performing at their tables.

#notation #performance #connections