Lesson 2
Rhythm
Notation

Practice Drills
rhythm
PDF Drills L2

Assignments
WA 2

Creative
Project

 

 

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Summary Table: Lesson 2

beat/pulse

Measures equal amounts of time

meter Regularly occurring pattern of accented and unaccented beats
measure

One metrical unit in music notation

bar line

Vertical line dividing the music into metrical units (measures)

double bar line

Two vertical parallel lines marking the end of the piece or a section

meter signature

Symbol (usually two numbers) found at the beginning of a piece that designates the meter (also called time signature)

"Common time" (4/4 time signature)


"Cut time" or "alla breve" (2/2 time signature)

augmentation dot

A dot placed after a note to lengthen the note's value by one half

double dot

A dot placed after a note to lengthen the note's value by three fourths

tie A curved line joining two notes of the same pitch; indicates one note is to be heard with a time value that is the sum of both notes
slur

A curved line joining notes of different pitches; indicates the notes should be performed in a smooth, connected manner

fermata

A symbol placed above (or below) a note to indicate a hold or pause (of no specific length)

anacrusis
(or pickup)

An incomplete measure at the beginning of a piece (balanced with an incomplete measure at the end)

tempo

Rate of speed of the beat

metronome

A device for accurately depicting/performing tempo

repeat signs

Symbols specifying that music is to be repeated from the beginning or from a previous spot in the music; often designated by double dots and double lines

da capo Repeat from the beginning
dal segno Repeat from the sign ( )
D.C. al fine

Repeat from the beginning and play to the word Fine (the end)

D.S. al fine Repeat from the sign and play to the word Fine
articulation Refers to the manner in which notes are connected in a melody

legato

A term, sometimes indicated by a slur, that tells the performer to perform in a smooth, connected manner
staccato

A term, indicated by a dot above or below a note, that tells the performer to play in a detached manner

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