Reading Rhythm Note Disk (cutout) Explanation Needed
Found in: Reading
Marsha S., Washington
I am teaching Reading Rhythm and need help explaining how to use the Note Disk (circle we are to cut out) in the Reading Rhythm materials. I know it is an aid to begin formalizing the note names, but I have not been successful in finding the instructions on how exactly to use it.
I have ideas, but know how critical it is to explain it “correctly” the first time.
Lauralee, California
You use the note disk when introducing “Naming the Ingredients.” It is a visual tool to help to understand the mathematical concepts of the notes.
I use it then, and also as follows (as taken from ideas from teacher extraordinaire, Jy Gronner!):
Week 1: Teach the students how to write Bass and Treble Clefs. Homework is to practice writing them every day (in RR book or manuscript book).
Week 2: Teach students about Time Signature: Top number is “Count to ____.” bottom number is “using ____” (4=quarter notes, 2=half notes, 8=eighth notes).
In lesson, practice writing bars, choosing a 4 at the bottom, and choosing a 4 at the top. Using the note disk, they need to “use up” the whole disk to finish one bar, with any combination of note values to equal the whole disk. Teach them to write bar lines between each bar, and that the last bar of any line of music ends at the end of the line, and does not get divided up at the end of one line and the beginning of the next.
Week 3: Student chooses any number for the top number now. They may need to use up either less than a whole disk (in the case of 2/4 or 3/4 time) or, they may need to use more than one disk in the case of any number above 4 for the top number. They now use the disk as a visual clue, but hopefully just to correct themselves at home. I have students make more disks, cutting them as follows: One whole disk, one cut into only halves, one cut into only quarters, one cut into only 8ths, and one cut into only 16ths. So they have the equivalent of 5 “pies” or disks.
Week 4: Now teach about having a number 2 at the bottom of the time signature. In other words, count to ___, using half notes. Now a time signature of 2/2 will use up one whole disk, 3/2 will use up 1.5 disks, 4/2/ two disks, etc.
Week 5: Now teach about having a number 8 at the bottom.
I only move on to each new component when the student is ready. In a shared lesson, some students might move at different paces through these exercises. I introduce Laurie Richard’s Read and Play workbook just after naming ingredients as well.