I’ve got some kids who just aren’t feeling the rhythm. This is what I came up with for them.

What You Need:

• A die
• A blank sheet for rhythm duets.
  • I printed it only once and put it in sheet protectors.
• Pencil (or whiteboard marker if you’re using the sheet protectors)
  • Alternatively, you can skip the composing your own rhythm idea and just use flashcards with rhythms on them (each one needs one measure).
• Special 6 Cards

Setup:

• Shuffle the Special 6 cards
• Write out what note values you want to go with each number on the die. For example, 1 = quarter note, 2 = half note, etc. Depending on the ability level of the student, some might be two eighth notes or a dotted quarter note. Reserve 5 for wild and 6 for the Special 6 card.

How to Play:

• Student rolls the die. They need to create a measure in 4/4 time that includes at least one of whatever note value they rolled. Write their rhythm in one of the measures on their line (it does not have to be the first measure).
  • For most students, I had them count and clap the measure first and then write it because I want them to feel the beat more than I want them to be able to add up to four beats. But if they struggle with that, you could do it the other way around.
  • Most students also wrote their own rhythm down. I only did it for the youngest ones.
  • If you roll a 5 (wild), there are no restrictions. Any note values are fine.
  • If you roll a 6 on the first turn, just roll again. If you roll a 6 on subsequent turns, draw a special 6 card, follow the instructions, and roll again.
• Teacher takes a turn and creates a measure on her own line.
• Once you both have a measure, count and clap your lines as a duet.
  • If a measure has nothing in it yet, treat it as a whole rest.
  • For every measure done correctly, award one point. (Don’t count the rest measures.)
• Repeat the process, except count and clap the duet and award points after each person has a turn. This ensures the student always has a chance to remain a point ahead. Continue until you fill all the measures or you run out of lesson time.

What You Need:

• A whiteboard, chalkboard, or if you don’t have either, just use a piece of paper
• Markers (or chalk) in a variety of colors
• Rhythm cards like these

Setup:

• None

How to Play:

• The teacher draws a rhythm card. She counts a preparatory measure out loud and then claps the rhythm on the card without counting aloud.
• The student chooses his favorite color of marker and writes the rhythm up on the board.
• Switch jobs and repeat
• If you choose to play for points, here’s how I did it.
  • The students get two points if they correctly write the rhythm within two times of hearing it. If it takes more than two repetitions, they go down to one point. I never let them get to zero because we keep going until they get it right.
  • The teacher gets one point for getting it right and has to get it on the first attempt. This ensures that the student will always at least tie me. Only one student complained that it wasn’t fair enough to challenge her. I switched to one of the variations below and she stopped complaining.

Variations:

• To make it easier, limit your rhythm cards to very basic things like four quarter notes, two half notes, etc.
• To make it harder, include the harder rhythms or make it two measures long.

Technically, you don’t need chimes to do this activity. You can just clap the rhythms or use a piano, but the kids will love chimes or bells if you have them.

What You Need:

• Rhythm Flashcards (one measure per card)
• Chimes, bells, a xylophone, or some other pitched instrument
  • Preferably, each note should be on a different bell or chime, rather than part of a fixed keyboard.

Setup:

• None

How to Play:

• The student picks a bell. He draws a card and plays that rhythm on the bell counting aloud.
• He draws two more cards and counts and lays them with the first to make a rhythm that is three measures long.
• When he is confident with the rhythm, the teacher can choose a different bell and play along. (Choose a bell in the same chord.)
• The student can then draw three cards for the teacher. Then they play a duet where the two rhythms are different. Many students have trouble holding onto their rhythm, so this is good for independence.
• Finally, give the student three bells that form a triad. The student should then play the rhythm again, but move between the three bells in any order they choose. Because all the notes are in a chord, it will make a pretty melody.
  • If you are using a xylophone that cannot have the bells removed, you can still point out the right notes, but there is a much higher likelihood that the student will miss.

Variations:

• To make it easier, limit the rhythms to quarter notes, half notes, and whole notes (the first page in this set).
• To make it harder, increase the number of measures or use harder rhythms. You can also try having them play two different rhythms at the same time, one with the left and one with the right.