Why Students Learn Rhythm Better in Small Groups
Small groups offer better ways to learn rhythm
I was a terrible student when it came to counting. My teacher insisted I count aloud while playing. At age 8, I hadn’t even learned fractions and well, I just couldn’t say, 1+2 for one note but just + on another. I really couldn’t do it. She got frustrated with me and made me feel like I was inept when it came to timing. That feeling of failure stuck with me a long time.
Not all students learn the same way though, so a good teacher offers many ways to understand rhythm. When I have a student who is weak in counting, they learn better when that rhythm practice is done in games and manipulatives, not just hammered out when they have made a mistake on their song assignment.
Group rhythm
Rhythm games are a good way for me, as the teacher, to observe the strengths and weaknesses of my students away from the piano. There are clapping games where we practice quarter, eighth or half notes. It takes lots of hands to make that happen in duets or trios. Seeing the delight and even the confusion of students who struggle helps me teach them better as I focus on their needs.
Play not drudgery
One of my manipulatives is bright red-handled spoons. Sometimes we play with the spoon end, sometimes the red handles. A favorite is when we beat one count with the stems and another with the big side. My wooden rhythm sticks are passed out in color patterns so students can learn to play the purple stick for half notes while the yellow sticks play 8th notes on their laps. It’s fun and engaging to get the class focused making just ONE beat with colorful toys.
No microwave popcorn
Whether we use puzzles, candy pieces, balls or drumsticks to play rhythm games, students improve through play. We laugh and then we try harder. Feeling the rhythm in different ways is fun. The goal of each group game is to make our rhythm sound like ONE person playing ONE pattern. If not, I tell them it sounds like popcorn popping in the microwave. That gets a good laugh and then everyone tries harder to listen and feel the beat.
Coordination, not math
Learning rhythm in a group becomes far more about fun, best, challenge and symbols than it does about adding 1.5 and .5 plus 2 to equal 4. Rhythm lessons in small group classes teaches counting with smiles and success. Wished I’d have learned to count this way.
