Fundamentals of rhythm and tempo
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe tempo accurately and can identify key rhythmic concepts by ear.
Key learning points
- There are many different Italian terms to describe tempo, including largo, allegro and presto.
- Tempo can also be measured in beats per minute (BPM).
- Accelerando, ritardando and rubato change the tempo during a composition.
- Some of the most common rhythmic features include syncopation, rhythmic motifs and cells and rhythmic repetition.
Keywords
Rubato - when a performer slightly changes the tempo to add expression
Accelerando - a gradual speeding up of tempo
Ritardando - a gradual slowing down of tempo; rallentando creates a similar effect
Swing quavers - the first quaver in each pair has a slightly longer duration than the second quaver
Syncopated - a rhythm that emphasises notes in between the main beats
Common misconception
Tempo markings are a precise indication of speed.
Most tempo markings (like allegro) are a rough indication of the speed, but not an exact measurement. Composers usually leave it up to the performers to determine the exact speed. Often in modern music they will indicate a specific speed using BPM.
Teacher tip
There are a wide range of Italian terms for tempi that pupils can learn. For simplicity, restricting it to the five in this lesson that represent a range of different tempi is more than adequate. You may wish to introduce students to other terms (e.g. vivace, con gusto) to deepen learning.
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