Reading+and+Playing+Rhythms+with+Picture+Cards



Reading and Playing Rhythms with Picture Cards Home 1. Echo four beat phrases using the language cards such as “alligator, bunny, and fish”. 

2. Introduce the picture cards. Play a four beat rhythm and have students echo what has been played. Ask students to decide how they will arrange the cards to represent what has been played. Continue this process as a rhythmic warm-up for a number of classes. 3. At another class arrange four cards in order. Ask students to air drum and speak the words. Repeat a second time and drum the cards.

4. Extend the activity by drumming the four cards but changing one of them. The students echo the four-beat pattern and then decide which card needs to be changed. 5. As students gain facility, the cards can be turned over to show the musical notation and written word.

__Extension Ideas as Brainstormed by UNB Worshop Participants__

6. Assign a different instrument to each picture card.

7. Put the cards in a high, low, or medium position. Decide what instruments or sounds to use to play each card.

8. Use a blank card in the group of four cards, to represent a rest.

 __More Ideas__  
 * Students can create four beat compositions by arranging cards in a sequential order of four.
 * They can play their compositions using different families of "found sounds". Families of non-pitched percussion instruments could be used also.
 * Combine two groups to create an eight beat composition.