Rhythms in Quarter time

Dail Bienkiewicz
MrsB5561@aol.com
Barrington Middle School

TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:

Electronic Musical Instruments
Notation

Level:

Middle School

Class:

General Music

Equipment:

Computer, Printmusic or Finale software, and Midi Keyboard lab.

Duration:

40 Minutes

Prior Knowledge and Skills:

Basic understanding of time signatures and note/rest values in quarter time

MENC Standards Addressed:

MENC 4: Composing and Arranging Music within specified guidelines.
MENC 5: Reading and notating music.
MENC 6: Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
MENC 7: Evaluating music and music performances.

Materials:

Teacher-generated hand-out worksheet.
Overhead Projector

Objectives:

As a result of this lesson, students be able to notate and create basic rhythms in 2/4,3/4,4/4,5/4,and 7/4

Procedures:

Students begin this lesson with a quick review of note and rest values as well as time signatures.Teacher demonstration of completing measures of music to make them agree with the time signature given. Students then work on a teacher-generated hand-out with incomplete measures of rhythms that they must fill in with the appropriate #of beats. Teacher checks over the sheet to assess student progress. The teacher then demonsrates the notation skills needed to use the software and students begin to compose their own 4-8 measure rhythmic phrases. If time permits, the class then listens to each others work.

Evaluation:

First assessment is made after students complete the hand-out with incomplete measures. Student success will be measured by their ability to create the correct amount of beats in measure.

Follow Up:

Have students create a basic percussion ensemble, working into 16 and 32 measure pieces.