Rhythm Syllables
The benefits of teaching rhythm syllables to children are well documented to improve reading.
Imitate, isolate, diverge: every generation will change it to fit the standards for their generation!
Resources
- Rhythm and Literacy connections
- Rhythm Dictation
- Reading Rhythm Syllables
- Teaching "Whole Music" Literacy
- Species that learn Vocally including humans
Beat Competence - STEADY BEAT
- Absolute Time is hard wired
Beats are reference to feel, and later to measure, rhythm. - Kindergarten Children are expected to keep a steady beat.
- Multiple Intelligences - body/kinesthetic intelligence is evidenced by an innate awareness of the body and being able to utilize the body as mechanics, especially shown as athletic abilities ie: basketball, baseball, dance, football, soccer, racecar driving, skiing, surfing, gymnastics, and figure skating
- Nursery Rhymes use rhythmic Word Syllables in Poetry like Dr. Seuss books.
Making music with rhythms is a team effort.
RHYTHM SYLLABLES AND THE KODALY APPROACH
Rhythm syllables are a tool for teaching and internalizing a strong sense of rhythm.
Using
the rhythm syllable method, commonly occurring rhythmic patterns are given a particular name that aids in
their reading and performance. This idea is not strictly confined to Kodaly teaching. Both African
and Indian music employ a system of rhythm syllables. The Hungarian system was adapted from the
work of the French musician and teacher, Emile-Joseph ChevÈ (1804-1864).
Strictly speaking, rhythm syllables are not names, but expressions of duration. They are
effective because they linguistically represent real sound - that is, they sound like the rhythms they
represent. With rhythm syllables it is possible to chant a rhythm pattern so that it is in time
and
in rhythm. Ordinarily this would be impossible using the theory names of each note (crotchet,
quarter note, etc.). Rhythm syllables are spoken, never written down as words. Their written form is the
rhythm symbol itself.
Rhythm syllables are partly necessitated by the developmental nature of Kodaly teaching.
For a child, ta is a much more logical and more effectively internalized name for a crotchet or quarter
note
simply because both names are made of a number of syllables, yet in actuality the crotchet is really one
sound over one beat.
Here are the commonly used rhythm symbols and there corresponding rhythm syllables:
- crotchet or quarter note = ta
- 2 quavers or eight notes = ti-ti
- 4 semiquavers or sixteenth notes = tika-tika
- eight note+2 sixteenth notes = ti-tika
- 2 sixteenths + an eighth = tika - ti
- minim or half note = too
- dotted crotchet + quaver... dotted quarter+eighth = taam- ti
- dotted eighth + semiquaver = tim-ka
USING THE SENSE OF TOUCH
I use Kodaly rhythm syllables ta and ti-ti in 1st grade. We go from words to ta's by
deciding how many sounds (syllables) are in the word. The children find this much easier if they 'put
the word in their hand'. They tap two fingers in one hand and say the word.
We also write the rhythms with our bodies. In 1st grade I use four pieces of blue paper
cut
into puddles (beat) and the children write the rhythm for "Rain, Rain Go Away." One child stands
on a puddle for a ta and two children together with arms ON, not over, each others shoulders stand on a
puddle to make a ti-ti. We use also use dog bones for beat or whatever fits the song. By 2nd grade
the students no longer need the beats and can write rhythms with their bodies using some pretty creative
notation.
Practice Beat Competance with Dance
Dance Basics - Watch Video's of Dancers
Alley Cat
Balloon Dance
Chicken Dance
Electric Slide
Friendship Dance
Ghost Busters
Hora
Macarena
Men In Black
Mexican Hat Dance
Rise (Mr. Big Stuff)
Rocky Top
Train
Virginia Reel
Whoomp!"