Rhythm and Sound Duration in Music

Music is an art of universal expression which combines sound and time. Sound has four qualities(also called elements of sound).These are:timbre,pitch,dynamics and time.They are combined in different ways to produce the basic elements of music being rhythm, melody,harmony and counterpoint.This space was created to assist beginning music classroom students in the study of one of its basic elements-Rhythm.Other music elements as well as the elements of sound will be discussed in future blogs. Rhythm figure symbols,sound durations and exercises are provided as well as links and other media features

Rhythm uses one of the elements of sound. This element is time and it relates to sound durations.By arranging different sound durations and silences into different patterns you create rhythm.

The Importance of Rhythm in Music

There is no way a person can create music without rhythm.Rhythm is the basic element present in all the other elements of music.Rhythm is important because it organizes the patterns of sound and silence to bring out different styles of music associated with different cultures.

Understanding Rhythm Counting and Sound Duration

Students in first and second grades must visit the following website to understand the basics of rhythm counting and sound durations.To do so,click on the link below.

http://www.philtulga.com/counter.html

Students in grades 3 to 5, in addition, must also visit the following website and watch the video to understand more advanced rhythm counting and sound durations.Click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL7iJirnD1o

Rhythm refers to the repetition and arrangement of sound and silence durations creating beats in a piece of music or exercise. Rhythm is expressed graphically with figures that indicate different sound and silence durations.

Rhythm and sound Puzzle

Click on the link below to view instructions and solve the puzzle.

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B1l0pj4rlTPANDgwMDU0MTEtMWQyZS00Nzc4LThhMzMtODAzYjUxNmU4MThl&sort=name&layout=list&num=50