Introduction to Music
Primary 4 · Creative Arts
Introduction to Music
Lesson 2 of 5
25 min
Let's begin
Put your hand on your chest. Can you feel your heart going boom, boom, boom? It never rushes and never stops. Music has something just like that inside it. It is called the beat.
The beat is the steady pulse of the music. It stays the same, like your footsteps when you walk to school: left, right, left, right.
When a drum group plays, one drummer often keeps the steady beat on a big drum. The other drummers play exciting patterns on top of it, but they all follow that beat.
Beats are grouped in bars. Many songs count 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4. The first beat of each bar feels a little stronger.
Each note above is called a crotchet. It lasts for one beat. When we clap it, we say ta.
Rhythm is the pattern of long and short sounds (and silences) in the music. The rhythm of a song usually follows its words.
Clap the words "Work together, hand in hand" while you count 1 2 3 4:
Try this with a friend. One of you pats the steady beat on your knees: 1 2 3 4. The other claps the rhythm of the words. Your pats stay steady, but the claps are sometimes quick and sometimes slow. That shows the difference: the beat stays the same, while the rhythm changes.
Tip
Beat = feet. Rhythm = words. Your feet walk a steady beat. Your words make the rhythm, with quick and slow sounds.
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
Clap your own name. How many claps does Byiringiro have?
Answer: 4 claps: Byi-ri-ngi-ro.
Which one stays steady: the beat or the rhythm?
Answer: The beat.
A minim (ta-a) lasts how many beats?
Answer: 2 beats.
Pat 1 2 3 4 on your knees and say ta ta ti-ti ta. How many sounds did you make?
Answer: 5 sounds (ta, ta, ti, ti, ta) in 4 beats.
In a drum group, what does the drummer on the big drum often do?
Answer: Keeps the steady beat for the others.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The rhythm diagrams, examples and practice questions were written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Match each rhythm word to how long it lasts.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
