Subdividing Beats in Music
In Let's Play Music, we focus on subdividing beats, a key rhythm skill your child will develop after mastering a steady pulse. Our Blue Bugs students will have this concept introduced in the Jungle Rhythm chant and our Orange Roots students will get to experience the next level using whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes!
It might help to compare subdividing beats to playing with unit blocks. These blocks, with precise 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 ratios, allow for stable and creative building. But when the blocks aren't in perfect ratios, stacking becomes frustrating and unstable.
Similarly, in music, subdivisions need to follow exact ratios for rhythm to stay in sync. Establishing a steady beat is as crucial as ensuring accurate subdivisions.
Let's explore how to choose a pulse and break it into perfect subdivisions.
Though music is written linearly on staff paper, rhythm is easier to understand when imagined as a hand spinning around a clock—rhythm traced out in a circle, as explained in this insightful 5-minute TED talk.
Visualizing the hand’s constant rotation helps internalize the steady pace. Similarly, when reading rhythm linearly, it's essential (though less intuitive) to maintain a constant left-to-right motion.
Jungle Rhythm Chant
In our Jungle Rhythm chant we introduce beats with a simple dot at the top of a "clock." Each rotation past this dot represents one beat.
We start with the elephant’s slow footsteps, marked by a bass drum and the vocal "Booooom!" for the first beat.
Next, we add a back-beat at the bottom of the clock, using alternating hands to play lion footsteps, with the snare drum or bongo adding a distinctive sound. We vocalize "Pat Pat."
This hands-on game helps students grasp subdivisions before diving into writing and counting rhythms. They move their bodies, vocalize, and have fun! Students will notice the lion takes two steps for every elephant step—shorter legs require twice the steps to keep up.
The next subdivision is the monkey walking. We add another circle, tapping tambourines or shoulders to represent four steps for every elephant's one. We vocalize "Chik chik chik chik."
Finally, the cicada chirps in an 8:1 ratio, with eight "ts ts ts ts" sounds, tapping maracas or fingers. It’s a room full of cicadas!
Internal Rhythm
Musical notation is easier to represent linearly on paper. For example:
Elephant = whole note
Lion = half note
Monkey = quarter note
Cicada = eighth note
Learning to subdivide and play simple beats accurately is essential, especially for tackling complex rhythms later.
Rhythmic accuracy improves when students can feel the beat and subdivisions internally, even if they aren't playing every note. For instance, they should feel the sixteenth notes, but only play what's written.
Fun At Home
Here are some fun, full-body games to help your child feel the beat and practice subdividing.
Walk and Jog: In this Dalcroze-based exercise, the parent walks slowly with large steps while vocalizing "Left... Right..." The child (and others) jogs, taking two steps for every one of the parent's. Add a runner for four steps. Swap roles and practice with different rhythms. If possible, add a drum to match the walker’s beat.
Rhythm Instrument Fun: Use kitchen items (wooden spoons, pots, etc.) to establish a slow beat, then have another person play twice as fast. For more challenge, try playing four beats for every one of your partner's or three beats.
Jungle Drum Guessing: Tap a drum slowly for whole notes, then change subdivisions for your child to identify. Use different actions (lap pats, alternating leg pats, shoulder pats, or finger taps) to match the subdivisions.
Hand-Clapping Games: Hand clapping games reinforce steady beat and subdivisions while meeting emotional and social needs. You can google hand-clapping games and find several fun variations!
Play with Blocks: Use building blocks to explore rhythms and ratios (1:2, 1:3, 1:4). Clap the rhythm using the Jungle Rhythm voicings (boom, pat-pat, chick-chick-chick-chick, etc.) and then build something fun!
Extra Challenging—Two Instruments, Two Rhythms: Hold a rhythm instrument in each hand. Start by playing both hands slowly, then have the dominant hand play twice as fast. This helps with steady left-hand accompaniment and right-hand melody on the piano.
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