Rhythm Hearts
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Rhythm Heart Beats is an activity sheet to teach students how to listen to simple rhythm patterns and then write them down.
They are good to pull out this time of year because they look very “Valentine-ish.”
The Kodaly Method teaches the difference in beat and rhythm by using a “heart beat” as an example of a steady beat. Rhythm is “the way the words go” and eighth notes are “two sounds on one beat.” When I used to teach classroom music I would use a felt board, but now I teach individual lessons, so I made these worksheets.
Young children and beginners can use the first sheet, with one measure, and older students will be able to take 2 measure dictation. Don’t let your students learn how to play the piano without knowing how to take rhythmic and melodic dictation. You never know what they may want to do with their music education in the future. Even if they haven’t learned to play 8th notes in their piano music, they are fully capable of learning the concept!
You mentioned using these on iPad to save paper but I am confused how this can work if they are supposed to do rhythmic dictation. How do students write what they hear on the iPad?
These sheets are an Excellent idea, by the way.
Jana, the idea is to use the iPad as the paper so we can save on printing costs. The teacher dictates the rhythm, and the students write the notes on the iPad as if it is a sheet of paper. Each quarter note is represented as a heart. If they hear one sound on the beat, they draw a quarter note. If they hear 2 sounds on the beat they draw 2 eighth notes, etc. If it still doesn’t make sense, send me an email with specific questions!
There are iPad apps for music dictation, but I’ve never used one so I can’t help you find one in the app store. I imagine they would be a lot more difficult. This is beginning level.
Thank you very much Susan. Do I need to get a stylus? Does it actually show up on the iPad? I saved it in iBooks. Am I doing something wrong?
OK this makes sense now. Can you tell I’m new at iPad use?! Very helpful and thank you for your time.
Gratefully
Jana
You’re welcome, and let me know if I can help you more. iPad apps are very personal. You have to find one that works for you. The ones that come with free versions first are very helpful to get a feel for it. With Jot you have to buy it to work with PDF’s from websites. But it’s easy for me to use and I like it. I think at a piano lesson it is important to have one you can open quickly. Of course, you can always print out the sheets and put then in sheet protectors and use a dry erase marker!
Would really appreciate knowing how you teach rhythm to children and at what ages you expect them to be able to hold a steady beat. Many of my students (even 9-year-olds, usually boys) play pieces without a discernible beat (even though they say they are doing the rhythm “right”). Other cotton on almost immediately. Makes me wonder whether there is a rhythm gene. Or is it just my inadequate teaching methods.
Any expansion on your rhythm hearts would be great!
Thanks.