A look inside Beginner Rhythm Flashcards Set 1:

• Available in 4 different sets (allows for flexibility to use the exact flashcards you need!)
  • Set 1: Rhythm flashcards with design backs (no answers)
  • Set 2: Rhythm flashcards with US note values on backs
  • Set 3: Rhythm flashcards with International note values on backs
  • Set 4: Rhythm flashcards with Rhythm values on backs
• Card fronts include:
  • 2 single eighth notes/quavers
  • 2 double eight notes/quavers
  • 2 quarter notes/crotchets
  • 2 dotted quarter notes/dotted crotchets
  • 2 half notes/minims
  • 2 dotted half notes/dotted minims
  • 2 whole notes/semibreves
  • 2 eighth rests/quaver rests
  • 2 quarter rests/crotchet rests
  • 2 dotted quarter rests/dotted crotchet rests
  • 2 half rests/minim rests
  • 2 whole rests/semibreve rests
  • Time signatures 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4

You will get the digital file to print and laminate (optional) for your music studio.

Game Ideas Using Beginner Rhythms Flashcards:

1. BEATS IN ORDER

One of the easiest rhythm flashcard games is timing how quickly a student can order the beats.

You can go from least-to-greatest beats or greatest-to-least.

2. MATCH NOTES & RESTS

Sometimes, students get very confused about rests.

So doing a rhythm flashcard game where students match notes and rests will help clarify any confusion.

You can play this like normal “memory match” games where the cards are laid out and students flip over two at a time until they get a match (e.g. quarter note and quarter rest).

Or, you can have the student flip up the cards and lay them face-up, pairing matches as soon as they flip up the pair (e.g. student may flip up an eighth note, half note, and whole note before getting the eighth rest to match on top of the eighth note).

3. CLAIM THE BEAT

Lay all of the rhythm flashcards out face-up.

Teacher says “1” and the student grabs a card with the correct value (in this case, a quarter note or rest).

Continue saying other numbers until all the cards are gone.

You can time it to see how quickly the student can find all the right notes.

4. RHYTHM FOUR CORNERS!

Label the four corners of your room 1-4 (you can either label them random with 1 = whole note, 2 = eighth note; or you can be mathematical about it and 1 = quarter note, 2 = half note, 3 = dotted half note, 4 = whole note).

Teacher holds up a note or rest and students rush to that corner.

5. RHYTHM WAR

Play “war” with rhythm flashcards!

Split the rhythm flashcards into two piles; teacher gets one, student gets one.

Teacher and student flip up a card.

Whoever has the highest note value “wins” that round and collects all cards.

If there is a tie (same note or value), flip up another card and the winner of that round wins all cards on the table.

You can also swap this one around and the lowest value wins.

6. RHYTHM DICTATION

Clap a rhythm.

Have the students rush to lay our rhythm flashcards and finish first.

For an extra fun flair, have a bell that the student can ring when they are done!

Keep points to see who can lay out the most rhythms if you need a little competition.

7. FAMILIAR SONG RHYTHM

Play a portion of a melody that your student is learning or a familiar tune.

Student creates the rhythm with flashcards.

You can play this like #6 (Rhythm Dictation) if you have multiple students; they can race to finish first, ring a bell, and keep score.

8. GUESS THE RHYTHM

Lay out two rhythms.

Clap or play one of them.

Have the student identify which rhythm they heard clapped or played.

9. CLAP BACK

Lay out a rhythm and have the student clap it back to you.

To make a game of it, assign points if the student claps it perfectly, deduct points if the student holds a note too long or short, etc.

10. RHYTHM IMPROVISATION

Work with the student to create a rhythm.

Clap and count the rhythm then go to the piano (or another fun instrument) and create an improvisation based on the rhythm.

If your student freezes at the thought of improv, then add some note flashcards to the mix and assign a note flashcard for each rhythm flashcard (it doesn’t have to be set in stone; if the student thinks one of the notes sounds funny, you can go from there to change it and come up with a melody the student loves).