Metre, Rhythm and Tempo including pulse, simple time, compound time, and basic rhythmic devices, for example dotted rhythms, note durations.
Activity - Can you clap the pulse in the following songs?How Many Beats in a bar? Often a very fast 3/4 piece is conducted as if there was 1 beat in a bar. There 3rd movement of a classical symphony is nearly always a Minuet and in 3/4 time.
At the start of this soundtrack the meter is 5/4 (3+3+2+2). What happens to the time signature about 20secs when the drum beat enters? Try to clap the 3+3+2+2 subdivisions.
Introduction Video on Rhythm. Watch from the start until 5.45mins as a class. Terms mentioned include beat, pulse and tempo.
Activity : Time Signature/Metre in Music: Definition and Examples. Watch the video below, make notes on anything you didn't know before and then read the text.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, you learned that time signature, also called meter, tells us the number of beats per measure and the type of note that carries the beat. Duple meter has a common denominator of two beats, while triple meter has three beats. Simple time signatures divide the beat into two parts, and compound time signatures divide the beat into three parts. Complex or odd meter combines both simple and compound divisions into one measure. Lastly, mixed meter is when a song uses two different time signatures.
Learning Outcomes
- Once you've completed this lesson, you should be able to:
- Define what a time signature is and understand its purpose
- Explain the different parts of a time signature
- Discuss duple meter and triple meter
- Explain simple and compound meter and what you do if you can't define a time signature as simple or compound
- Define mixed meter
Listen as a Class and Clap the Beat to these 2 mixed meter songs 1) America from West Side Story uses a mixed meters of 6/8+3/4. 2) 'Money' by the UK 1970's band Pink Floyd is in a 7/4-4/4 time signature.
Activity : Meters and Time Signatures/Meter in Musical Forms. Watch the video below, make notes on anything you didn't know before and then read the text.
Lesson Summary
It's important to note that while these musical forms and associated time signatures are the norm, there are exceptions. The polka holds strong in 2/4 time, while the march and the gavotte are known to be in cut time. The waltz, mazurka, minuet, and scherzo are all 3/4 time, but their characteristics are clearly different. Finally, the gigue and the tarantella are in 6/8 time and are lively dances for entertainment and, historically, for exorcising tarantulas. Bob has now put the compositions back into order and no one will ever know the difference...or will they?!
Lesson Outcome
After viewing and seeing this lesson, students should be able to recognize meter and time signature in a variety of music.
Songs that Use Compound Meters
Activity : Tempo - Using the Musition software (or EMT) learn/review the necessary Italian tempo terms as directed by your teacher.
Use the EMT software to review your understanding of dotted notes.
Activity : Pulse : Using Music Ace 2 : Lesson 1 - Play the find the pulse game
Activity : Aural - Time Signature/Meter recognition. Use the Auralia software to help improve your recognition of meter.
Extension Work. Watch the rest of the Video on Rhythm Below or find some other songs in unusual meters. Do you know any pop songs that change tempo?