Lesson 1 of 100 ยท Simple Rhythms
โญ 30 XP๐ฅ Rhythm RoomQuarter Notes and Eighth Notes
Quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, and whole notes are the building blocks of rhythm.
๐ฏ Your mission
If your foot's not moving, you're not feeling it yet.
โก The twist
Tempo isn't speed for the sake of it โ it's the heartbeat of the song.
Listen for this
๐ง Listen for the LOW thump and the HIGH tap. They take turns.
Artist Spotlight
๐ Sheila E. became a top drummer at 15 by practicing in her bedroom on pots and pans.
Mind = Blown
๐คฏ Your heartbeat is the first rhythm you ever hear โ before you're even born.
Learn about quarter notes and eighth notes: read and perform quarter-note and eighth-note rhythms
What You'll Learn
Quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, and whole notes are the building blocks of rhythm. Each has a different duration.
Read and perform quarter-note and eighth-note rhythms
Identify rhythm patterns by ear
Notes on the Staff
Tap a note to hear it
Check Your Understanding
Question 1 of 3
Can you clap to the beat of a song?
Where you hear this in real life
Every game soundtrack, every TikTok beat, every commercial jingle โ rhythm is the foundation.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Make up a 4-beat clap pattern. Teach it to one person.
For the dinner table
โClap a rhythm. Can your kid clap it back? Try one with a rest in it.โ
Next Smart Lesson
We'll pick a music lesson that matches exactly where your ear is right now.
Share this music lesson
Send it to a parent who wants 5 minutes of music with their kid โ no instrument required.
Checkout complete lesson on Simple Rhythms for Pre-School
Get the full Simple Rhythms track as a printable PDF โ all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.
