Beat vs. No Beat

          

Beat vs. No Beat

• Play keyboard examples of songs with an obvious steady beat (i.e. march) and long, sustained tones for examples with “no beat.”
• Or… play recordings while students circle “beat” or “no beat.”

For songs with an obvious steady beat, you could use:

• John Philip Sousa marches
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart–Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
• Hoe-down from “Rodeo” (Copland)
• Mozart-Turkish March
• J.S.Bach Piano Concerto No.7 in G minor

For songs with no obvious steady beat, choose something with long, sustained tones:

• Gustav Mahler – Adagietto from Symphony no. 5
• Holst – Mars from “The Planets Suite” – parts of it 
• Barber’s Adagio For Strings, Op. 11 – parts of it
• Chant of the Templars – Salve Regina

Sound effects

Steady Beat

• Clock
• Walking (footsteps)
• Ball bouncing
• Windshield wipers
• Swinging (swing set)
• Faucet dripping
• Heartbeat

No Beat

• Birds singing
• Applause
• Rain
• Hit baseball
• Taking a shower

See also

• 1st grade rhythm assessments
• Kindergarten Rhythm Lessons & Resources
• 1st Grade Rhythm Lessons & Resources
• more steady beat resources
• beat vs. rhythm

Extras for Plus Members

(or available for purchase here)

• Beat or No Beat Digital & Printable Visuals

Steady Beat

No Beat

• Assessments