Adding Half/Whole Note Dictation Tutorial
Rhythmic Dictation, Unit 2: Adding Half & Whole Notes/Rests
The term "dictation" (when it comes to music) means to HEAR a rhythm and then attempt to notate it. This is the opposite of when we SEE a rhythm and attempt to perform it.
The next section of this module will help train you to be able to hear a rhythm and know what it would look like in a piece of music. This skill will ultimately help you read and learn new music more quickly. In this 2nd Unit, will be adding half and whole notes/rests to the quarters we used in Unit 1.
Seeing and Then Hearing (Prepping for Reading Music)
First, the traditional way of approaching rhythms. Start by looking at the following rhythm, and then listen to a short recording of that rhythm. In the audio file, you will always hear a "countoff" equal to the number of beats in the time signature. For now, we are only dealing with 4/4 time - so there will be four clicks in the countoff. A digital piano sound will make the rhythm you are listening for, while the click sound keeps the beat in the background. After the four-beat countoff, if you hear a click, but no piano note, you can assume there should be a rest on that beat.
Notice that (after the 4-beat countoff) you heard one long piano note that lasted for two beats (half note), followed by a piano note on a click that only lasted one beat (quarter note), followed by a single click with no piano sound (quarter rest). This matches the measure we just saw.
Hearing and Then Seeing (Prepping for "Dictation")
Now, let's do the reverse. This time, start by listening to the audio...
After the four-beat countoff, you heard an additional click with no piano note (you can assume this measure starts with a rest), followed by a piano note on a click, followed by a long piano note that lasted for two clicks (beats). Knowing that we are only dealing with quarter/half/whole notes and rests in this unit, it is safe to assume that we should have a quarter rest, a quarter note, and one half note, as notated below:
Next Up
Now you will have a practice quiz that gives you the opportunity to get used to these concepts. Some questions will show the rhythm and then ask you to select the correct performance recording (multiple choice). Others with give you a performance recording and ask you to select the correct rhythm (also multiple choice).
Have fun!