Reading Rhythm – dotted notes and ties
Found in: Reading
Susan M., Canada
My first student is at the end of Reading Rhythm! Question: for the student, dotted notes and ties aren’t as confident as I wish they’d be. What would you do in this case (he has no trouble with rests)? Would you move on anyway to Reading Notes and what would you do alongside Notes to assist with the dotted notes rhythms?
Stephen R., California
Do you use the Read & Play series? It gives good extra reinforcement and practice of the rhythm topics. In Read & Play, instruction is given to vocally “accent” the tied note (not giving it a “bum” because it is held). I find that helps. Also, lots of slow repetition with both ties and dotted notes. The ties with sixteenths are tough initially. Voice slowly without the tie, then with. One measure at a time. Dotted halves are pretty straightforward, just 3 beats. Dotted quarters are 1-1/2 beats, so we voice the eighth after the second beat. Lots of repetition and lots of working with Neil on the audio.
Kerry V., Australia
The ties are one of the hardest parts in RR. I usually go on to RN just before the ties, giving them more confidence, more time with RR practice. Then I go back to the ties.
Cheri S., Utah
I don’t worry about complete mastery. I give them solid experience with ties and dotted notes, using many of the strategies mentioned. I make sure they understand the concepts and how to process the often-used tie and dot patterns. But students can even move into sheet music without having all those ties and dotted note MORs down cold. They won’t encounter rhythms as challenging as SM’s for a long time.
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
This is one area where I don’t expect mastery before moving on. They just take a while. I keep coming back and reinforcing them and practicing them in class, but I move on. Your best bet is always to try to find a song familiar to the student that uses the rhythms. e.g. I’ll Be There RH is great for ties – they are able to really grasp the purpose of ties when they relate it to a song they know.