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Lesson 1 of 6
  • Year 3

Rhythm grids as a form of notation

I can perform from a simple rhythm grid as part of an ensemble.

Lesson 1 of 6
New
New
  • Year 3

Rhythm grids as a form of notation

I can perform from a simple rhythm grid as part of an ensemble.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A rhythm grid is a visual grid system to represent and perform rhythmic patterns.
  2. Rhythm grids are a useful way of notating music for percussionists.
  3. A steady pulse is important when playing a rhythm grid as it helps keep in time.
  4. We can create an ostinato by repeating rhythm grid patterns.

Keywords

  • Notation - a way of visually representing and recording music

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

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

  • Ostinato - a repeating musical pattern which can be rhythmic or melodic

  • Dynamics - how loud or quiet the music is

Common misconception

We only warm up for singing.

Warming up can also help us prepare for playing instruments, using our bodies and working together in an ensemble. This helps us to focus, develops our sense of pulse and improves our coordination.


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

Take time to internalise the feeling of the pulse in the rhythm grids. Change what the coding means so you can repeat grids over and over again e.g. white can change to mean click whilst green might mean jump!
Teacher tip

Equipment

Optional - two types of unpitched percussion e.g. claves and maracas. 30 claves and 15 maracas if possible but 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).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
The __________ is the regular, steady heartbeat of the music.

An image in a quiz
pitch
Correct answer: pulse
timbre

Q2.
How do you play a percussion instrument?

by plucking or bowing
by blowing
Correct answer: by striking, shaking or scraping

Q3.
__________ is speaking in time to a pulse.

Correct answer: chanting
humming
singing

Q4.
Dynamics means ...

how high or low a note is
Correct answer: how loud or quiet the music is
the way the music is organised

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
A rhythm grid is a form of musical ...

instrument
performance
Correct answer: notation

Q2.
True or false? We only warm up for singing.

Correct Answer: false, untrue

Q3.
True or false? Rhythm grids are used to notate melodies.

Correct Answer: false, untrue

Q4.
Which of these instruments could read from a rhythm grid?

Correct answer: tambourine
cello
trombone
Correct answer: maracas
Q4 image 2 Cello, front and side view, Georg Feitscher, 2010, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9457808

Additional material

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