Rhythm

• System of organized sound and silence
• Rhythmic notation is based upon proportional relationships

Pulse – Regular beating of the arteries

Tempo – speed at which something is performed

Metronome – Device that beats a pulse at a regular tempo

Beat

• The pulse in music

We typically vocalize numbers to count beats.

Measures

Adding measure lines organizes the beats into segments called measures.

Notice a measure line “resets” the counting of the beats.

Meter – A system of strong and weak beats

Conducting – use of gesture to represent musical sounds

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Fundamental Meter Types

Duple Meter

Two beats occurring per measure:

Triple Meter

Three beats occurring per measure:

Quadruple Meter

Four beats occurring per measure:

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Dividing the Beat

Simple Meter – the base division of the beat is two.

Simple Division

Beat is divided into two equal parts.

Vocalized (Traditional American System): 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Simple Subdivision

Beat is divided into four equal parts.

Vocalized (Traditional American System): 1 E + A 2 E + A 3 E + A 4 E + A

Practice the transition:

Compound Meter – the base division of the beat is three.

Compound Division

Beat is divided into three equal parts.

Vocalized (Traditional American System): 1 + A 2 + A 3 + A 4 + A

Compound Subdivision

Beat is divided into six equal parts.

Vocalized (modified Traditional American System): 1 E + Ta A Ta 2 E + Ta A Ta 3 E + Ta A Ta 4 E + Ta A Ta

Microdivision – any division beyond subdivision

Simple/Compound Relation

• The length of the division stays the same unless notated.
• The beat in compound meter is longer by a 3:2 ratio.

Practice the transition:

Borrowed Meter

• It is common to borrow from compound meter. In this case, the beat remains the same, which the divisions become shorter in length.
• “Triplets”

Vocalized (Traditional American System): 1 + A 2 + A 3 + A 4 + A

Practice the transition: