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Rhythm Rulers

     I absolutely love this image to teach the concept of rhythm and how to accurately hold the bow tone out during a note. I’m going to attempt to write about this subject but if I lose you just go to the video. It’s much easier explained there.

     One of the most common misconceptions of counting has to do with how we introduce what a “beat” is. All a metronome does is it makes a sound that represents the beginning of a beat. The beat actually lasts all the way up to the next sound the metronome makes. In the rhythm ruler picture we find that a quarter note equals one inch. The lines on a ruler are not an inch. It’s the in between space that is the inch. It’s the same in music. The beats on the metronome are not the entire note. It’s the space in between. Here’s an example of a common mistake. A note that is 3 counts long a person would count 1     2     3 and the bow would stop right at 3. This would be an example of 2 counts! To play 3 counts the violinist would continue bowing and then stop on 4!

     The 2nd page of the Rhythm Rulers shows sub divisions of a beat. One of my favorite things to do with the rhythm rulers is to cut each rhythmic example into strips. Take the quarter note strip and the eighth note strip. Place one on top of the other and hold it up to the light so you can see the 2 images superimposed.

     Many thanks to my age old friend from elementary school Cathy Fogle who shared this concept with me.  As a classroom music teacher she fully understands that the quicker and simpler she can teach the more effective her results are. The Rhythm Rulers are easy to understand and very effective.

Rhythm Rulers #1 download

Rhythm Rulers #2 download

Rhythm Rulers video

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