Make Learning Challenging Rhythms So Fun That Sudents Will Beg to Practice Them

Preschool students can easily learn to clap quarter, half, and whole notes, but when it comes to more complex rhythms such as eighth notes, sixteenth notes, the combination of two sixteenths and an eighth note, or other rhythmic combinations, this can be a different situation. Just as more experienced students can struggle with accuracy when learning challenging note combinations, preschool students can also find these rhythms difficult. A simple solution to this difficulty would be to wait untill preschoolers are much older to introduce some rhythmic values but I have found that there is a better option.

I believe students who start taking lessons in preschool should be given all the foundations for a successful future in music. Because playing musically requires rhythmic accuracy, in my experience I have found that students who start learning complicated rhythms earlier in their musical studies are more likely to become proficient musicians who can confidently enjoy learning music and gradually develop a certain amount of independent when learning pieces from an instructor at a younger age. Even if students don’t yet understand the mathematical division behind rhythm, students can still learn to clap and play complex rhythms correctly.

So how does one introduce complex rhythms with preschool students? Complicated rhythms need to be connected to something that all preschoolers relate to. What can all preschoolers relate to? Food and more specifically deserts! A few year ago I created cards with rhythmic values on them and pictures of desserts in which the syllables corresponded to the rhythmic values. The cards were a huge hit! Students loved saying the names of desserts and clapping the rhythms and students seamlessly translated the names of food they were clapping and saying to playing the piano.

This was a perfect situation. I had students who were playing accurate rhythm, verbalizing the rhythm, and I didn’t have to bribe them to count out loud! Besides who doesn’t want to say ice cream milk instead of counting out loud! Even my older students have asked about the dessert rhythm cards they see in the studio and want to try them.

Looking for a way to get your students to count out loud and correct that pesky rhythm?  Check out the dessert rhythm cards  recently added to the store here. With the dessert rhythm cards, there are instructions for ten super fun, creative, and exciting games to play.