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Lesson 6 of 6
  • Year 3

Composing and notating on rhythm grids

I can compose and refine a rhythm composition using stick notation on a rhythm grid.

Lesson 6 of 6
New
New
  • Year 3

Composing and notating on rhythm grids

I can compose and refine a rhythm composition using stick notation on a rhythm grid.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Stick notation is one way of representing different rhythms on a rhythm grid.
  2. Effective compositions make use of simple, memorable ideas and repetition.
  3. Rhythms are built up of notes of differing durations.

Keywords

  • Stick notation - a way of writing rhythms down

  • Compose - to create a piece of music over time

  • Rhythm - the pattern of sounds and silences that we play and sing

  • Beat - the playing or showing of the steady pulse, like the ticking of a clock

  • Duration - the length of a sound or silence

Common misconception

The more complicated rhythms we use when we compose, the better our music will sound.

Successful music is repetitive, playable and memorable!


To help you plan your year 3 music lesson on: Composing and notating on rhythm grids, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Take time teaching the children how to draw their notation so it is legible, even and spread out.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Selection of untuned percussion instruments.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What is a composer?

someone who performs someone else's music
Correct answer: someone who creates new music
someone who conducts a choir

Q2.
How does chanting the Takadimi rhythms help us?

The syllables tell us how loud to play.
The syllables tell us how high or low the notes are.
Correct answer: The syllables help us perform the rhythm patterns in time.

Q3.
Can you clap and chant this rhythm?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Ta-dimi Ta-di Ta-di Ta

Q4.
__________ are how loud and quiet the music is.

Correct answer: dynamics
timbre
texture

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Tick some ways that are likely to make a successful rhythm composition.

use all the most complicated new rhythms you know
Correct answer: keep it simple and memorable
Correct answer: repeat patterns and ideas
always keep changing your ideas

Q2.
What instructions might be included on a rhythm grid?

Correct answer: what percussion instruments to use
Correct answer: what rhythms to play
what melodies to sing
the lyrics of the song
Correct answer: what body percussion to use

Q3.
When we write new music, we are .

Correct Answer: composing, composers

Q4.
Can you clap and chant this rhythm?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Takadimi Ta Takadimi Ta