Other rhythmic concepts
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify key rhythmic concepts, including anacrusis, polyrhythm, cross rhythms and hemiolas.
Key learning points
- Many melodies use an anacrusis to start before beat one (the downbeat).
- Polyrhythms include multiple rhythms that aren’t closely related playing together, creating a complex rhythmic texture.
- Cross rhythms create the feeling of different pulses playing simultaneously.
- A hemiola is used to create a brief effect of the pulse changing (by playing three notes over two beats or vice versa).
- Diminution and augmentation develop rhythmic ideas by proportionally shortening or lengthening notes.
Keywords
Downbeat - the first beat of a bar, which is usually emphasised
Anacrusis - a melody that begins before the downbeat
Polyrhythm - multiple different rhythms playing at the same time
Cross rhythm - a polyrhythm in which two or more of the rhythms 'conflict' and feel like they have a different pulse
Hemiola - when three notes are played over the duration of two or vice versa, creating the feeling of tempo change
Common misconception
Polyrhythm and cross rhythm are the same thing.
They are related, but not the same. A polyrhythm doesn't necessarily have to create different senses of pulse - it can just have different rhythms playing together. A cross rhythm has to create different senses of pulse at the same time.
Teacher tip
The hemiola can be a complex concept to understand at this level. For the purposes of KS4-level study, emphasise that the key to a hemiola is that it creates a sense of tempo change, by playing 2 over 3 or 3 over 2. Explore some different examples with pupils if possible to embed this concept.
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