Reading Rhythm Audio in Class Ideas
Found in: Reading
Cheri S., Utah
I’d like to collect ideas for many different ways to use the Reading Rhythm student audio. To help me in trying out your idea, please be specific about how you implement it. So, for example, if you have students clap or voice along with the audio–
- Do they clap, voice, or both?
- Do they clap the beat (pulse) or clap the written rhythm?
- Do they have the page in front of them while they clap/voice along?
- Do they try reading it on their own after doing it with the audio?
I’m interested in how you use the audio at any point in the Reading Rhythm process, from the beginning through transcription, adding ingredients, naming ingredients, ties & rests. And I’m interested in class time use as well as home assignments.
Gordon Harvey, Australia
Hi Cheri,
A couple of years ago I presented a session on using the RR audio. Here are a few notes from that:
- Sight reading – clap along with the audio for an entire line, watching the page while clapping.
- Start at a stage where it’s fairly challenging for the student to keep up, then repeat that line until student has tightened their rhythm and are at speed.
- Then try an entire page in that way – don’t stop! If you mess up, try to find a re-entry point (same idea as playing songs along with audio)
- Play back a track for an individual rhythm after you’ve voiced it to confirm you have it right
- Use as a transcription tool – play a track or portion of a track and write it down. Compare with the track in the book to check your work. This is especially handy when the student doesn’t have a transcription partner at home. Allows student to take on longer transcription challenges.
In certain cases, it’s fun in class to do ‘duets’, eg on page 8 (trk 13), where one student claps line 1 while another claps line 2. The audio allows this to be done at home – clap line 2 while the audio plays line 1. In class, divide into two.