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Lesson 2 of 6
  • Year 3

Rhythm and beat on rhythm grids

I can read and perform Ta and Ta-di rhythms using a rhythm grid.

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Lesson 2 of 6
New
New
  • Year 3

Rhythm and beat on rhythm grids

I can read and perform Ta and Ta-di rhythms using a rhythm grid.

Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and

Copyrights help

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A rhythm grid is a visual grid system to represent and perform rhythmic patterns.
  2. Rhythm grids can be displayed in many ways, you just need to know the code in order to be able to play them.
  3. Visual symbols such as colours, shapes or numbers can represent musical information.
  4. To play together in an ensemble, you need to have a good sense of pulse, to know when it is your turn to play.

Keywords

  • Rhythm grid - a visual grid system to represent and perform rhythmic patterns

  • Pulse - the regular, steady heartbeat of the music

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

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

  • Notation - a way of writing music down

Common misconception

Rhythm and pulse are the same.

Pulse is the regular, steady heartbeat of the music as opposed to rhythm which is the pattern of sounds that we play and sing.


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

Performing rhythms accurately together as a class ensemble takes time and requires practise. Don’t be afraid to repeat an exercise two or three times to allow children to improve their reading of notation and playing together.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Selection of unpitched percussion. This is not essential

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).

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