Rhythm Challenge

Every month I invite my students to complete a musical challenge. The online resources below include some options for this month's Rhythm Challenge.

You Be the Teacher Videos

Choose a video below to watch and prepare to teach a 1-minute lesson about the musical concept at the group lesson. You can create a poster, a short game, or explain the concepts in a memorable way.

Beginner Rhythm Concepts

Basic Note Values Video

Basic Notes and Rests with the Metronome

Time Signatures Video

Intermediate Rhythm Concepts

Upbeat/Pickup/Anacrusis Notes

Eighth Note Triplets

Beaming Notes

Grouping Rests

Intermediate Note Values Video

Syncopation Video/Papaya Syncopation Practice

Advanced Time Signatures

3/4 vs 6/8 Time Signatures

Not Difficult Polyrhythms 2:3

Rhythm Dictation Games

Click one of the links below to practice dictating rhythm patterns that you hear.

Tone Savvy Rhythmic Dictation Easy QHW

Tone Savvy Rhythmic Dictation Medium QHWE

Tone Savvy Rhythmic Dictation Hard QHDWE, DottedE

More Online Rhythm Games and Activities

Elementary

Classics for Kids Match the Rhythm -Echo Rhythm patterns using the space bar.

Ties and Slurs Quiz - Identify if the notes are connected by a tie or slur.

Intermediate

MTT Rhythms Memory Challenge - Can you match the rhythm note/rest with its name?

MTT Rhythm Activities How’s Your Timing - Identify the measure with the correct time signature.

The Cup Song Tutorial/ Demo Learn to tap cups to create this fun rhythm!

Rhythm Group Lesson Activities

You Be The Teacher

One option for this month's rhythm challenge is to watch a rhythm concept video below and come prepared to teach a mini-lesson (about 1 minute) to the other students during group lessons. Students could create a poster or game, use examples from music, or just explain it the concept in a memorable way.

Elementary Rhythm Concepts

• Basic Note Values Video QHDW

• Time Signatures Video

Intermediate Rhythm Concepts

• Intermediate Note Values Video Sixteenths, Dotted Eighth, Notes/Rests

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• Eighth Note Triplets

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• Beaming Notes/Grouping Rests

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• Syncopation Video/Papaya Syncopation Practice

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• Advanced Time Signatures

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  Upbeat/Pickup/Anacrusis Notes

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Split Second Challenge Game

How do you count the first measure or partial measure of each example?

• Late Elementary Examples (up to 1:47)
• Intermediate Examples (from 1:47-end)

Is this an upbeat?

 Challenge 1: Identify if the first notes in each example are pickup notes or not. Do the beats in the first bar add up to the same # of beats indicated in the time signature? If so, than it is not an upbeat!

Challenge 2: Race to write the counts of the first measure or partial measure example on your paddle. The first person to answer correctly gets a bonus point and every correct answer earns a point.

Zildjian Rhythm Videos - Rhythm flashcards with an energetic backing track quarter, half, whole notes and rests  and ties slurs

Related Posts: 

Intermediate RhythmVideos

Split Second Music Theory Game

Piano Pedaling Tutorials by the Piano Prof

I recently discovered The Piano Prof YouTube channel hosted by piano professor Kate Boyd and am loving so many of her tutorial videos related to intermediate level music! She explains with such clarity and includes music samples demonstrating the concepts. I love using flipped learning and her helpful explanations are a great resource for my piano lab time lesson plans that correlate with method book pieces. 

Pedaling Tutorial Videos

Pedaling Basics

Half Pedaling

How to Pedal Baroque and Classical Music

How to Pedal Romantic and Impressionist Music

Related Posts

Intermediate Piano Teaching Videos for Flipped Learning

Teaching Piano Pedaling Creatively

Intermediate Technique Tip Videos

Following are some intermediate technique concepts we cover in intermediate piano group lessons about technique. The videos provide helpful demonstrations and more detailed explanations. 

 How to play scales more evenly and quickly?

Watch starting at 6:00-6:30

How can you play speedy even tone scales?

• Beware of Twist or Shift
• Focus on Opening and Closing the Hand
• Alignment
• Pop into Place 8:03
• Exercises 9:51 Do Re Mi- Pop, Do Ti La So Fa- Cross Mi

What is Rubato? How do different performers vary the same piece?

Watch examples beginning @ 2 minutes

How do you play a tremolo?

How far down should you push the pedal?

Half Pedal (4:05) 

Intermediate Pedaling Tips (8:50)