Rhythm Practice

Remember the Note Values

Before you begin, remember:

♩ Quarter note = 1 beat

𝅗𝅥 Half note = 2 beats

𝅝 Whole note = 4 beats

A longer note does not make the beat slower. The steady beat continues while you hold the note.

Count the Rhythm

Now combine different note values.

Start with this rhythm:

♩ ♩ 𝅗𝅥

Count:

1 — 2 — 3 — 4

The quarter notes each use one beat. The half note begins on beat 3 and continues through beat 4.

Listen & Follow

Next, listen to the same kinds of rhythms.

Watch each note as the steady beat continues. Notice that quarter notes change on every beat, while half notes and whole notes continue across several beats.

Tip: Keep counting quietly while you listen.

Clap the Rhythm

You don’t need the piano for every rhythm exercise.

Press Start, listen to the count-in, then clap or tap the rhythm while counting aloud.

For example:

𝅗𝅥 ♩ ♩

Count:

1 — 2 — 3 — 4

Clap on 1, hold the first sound in your mind through 2, then clap again on 3 and 4.

This reinforces an important idea: you do not make a new sound on every beat when a note lasts longer than one beat.

Play the Rhythm

Now try the rhythms at the piano.

Place your right-hand thumb on Middle C. Use only Middle C so you can concentrate on rhythm rather than finding notes.

Start with:

♩ ♩ 𝅗𝅥

Play:

C — C — C

The first C lasts one beat, the second C lasts one beat, and the final C lasts two beats.

Then try:

𝅗𝅥 ♩ ♩

and:

♩ 𝅗𝅥 ♩

Keep counting 1 — 2 — 3 — 4 as you play.

Quick Check

Before moving on, check that you remember the three note values.

Great work! You’ve practised combining different note values.

You can now count and play short rhythms using quarter notes, half notes and whole notes while keeping a steady beat.

Then the next numbered lesson can introduce the quarter rest as something genuinely new.