Music Concepts Online: Notation:

Basic Rhythm and Pitch

Basic Rhythm

Lecture and FAQs

To begin to understand rhythm, take a look at the lecture entitled Rhythm: The Long and the Short of It, and also Rhythm FAQs.

Terms and Concepts

The rhythm terms and concepts you should understand are:
  • Rhythm
  • Score
  • Note, Head (or Note Head), Stem, Flag, Beam
  • Quarter Note, Half Note, Whole Note, Sixteenth Note
  • Rest, Eighth Rest, Quarter Rest, Half Rest, Whole Rest, Sixteenth Rest
  • Tie
  • Dot
  • Counting Numbers

    Basic Rhythm Exercises and Assignments:

  • Read from page 12 through page 17.
  • Do the Written Exercises on pp. 16-18.
  • Do the Computer Exercises 2, 3-6, 7-9 (see below for details): 
    CHAPTER 2 BASIC RHYTHM COMPUTER EXERCISES:

Note Values - Names & Equivalents:

	Note Values - Drill # 2



Note Values - Including Dots & Ties:

	Notes Without Dots - Drill # 3

	Dotted Notes - Drill # 4

	Tied Notes - Drill # 5

	All of the Above - Drill # 6

Rests:

	Rests without Dots - Drill # 7

	Dotted Rests - Drill # 8

	All of the Above - Drill # 9

    Online Rhythm Quizzes:

  • See MCO Blackboard for Online Rhythm Quizzes 1 - 3.

    Basic Pitch

    Lecture and FAQs

    To begin to understand pitch, take a look at the lecture entitled Pitch: The High and the Low of It and Pitch FAQs.

    Terms and Concepts

    The terms and concepts we will learn are:
  • Register
  • Pitch
  • 8va or 8va bassa
  • Note, Note Head, Stem, Right Stem, Left Stem, Beam
  • Staff and Grand Staff (or Great Staff)
  • Clef, Treble Clef, and Bass Clef (Note: we won't cover the C clefs)
  • Line(s) and Ledger Line(s)
  • Space(s)
  • Pitch Names
  • Middle C

    Basic Pitch Exercises and Assignments:

  • Read pp. 20-24 in the textbook.
  • Do the Written Exercises on pp. 25-26.
  • Do the Computer Exercises 10-15 and 20-22 (see below for details): 
    

BASIC PITCH CHAPTER TWO COMPUTER EXERCISES:

Pitch Naming:

	Treble Clef - No Ledger Lines - Drill # 10

	Treble Clef - Using Ledger Lines - Drill # 11

	Bass Clef - No Ledger Lines - Drill # 12

	Bass Clef - Using Ledger Lines - Drill # 13

	Grand Staff - No Ledger Lines - Drill # 14

	Grand Staff - Using Ledger Lines - Drill # 15


Pitch Writing:

	Treble Clef - Drill # 20

	Bass Clef - Drill # 21

	Grand Staff - Drill # 22

    Online Pitch Quizzes:

  • See MCO Blackboard for Online Pitch Quizzes 1 & 2.

    Advanced Rhythm and Pitch

    More Rhythm (Syncopation)

    Syncopation Exercises and Assignments:

    • Read Chapter 8 (More on Rhythm and Meter): pp. 141-142
    Read the Syncopation Makes it Move Lecture.
    Listen to "The Easy Winners" MIDI file
    Do Computer Exercise (Drill) # 110

    More About Pitch (Intervals)

    Intervals Exercises and Assignments:

  • Read pp. 154-156
  • Do Computer Exercises # 118-119, 126-127, 134 (see below for details): 
    Chapter 9: Intervals

Interval Writing:
	Seconds & Thirds - Above - Drill # 118

	Seconds & Thirds - Below - Drill # 119

Interval Spelling:

	Seconds & Thirds - Above - Drill # 12

	Seconds & Thirds - Below - Drill # 127

Interval Recognition

	Seconds & Thirds - Drill # 134

    Pitch FAQS

    For answers to your questions about Pitch, see Pitch FAQS.
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