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
See also
- 1st grade rhythm assessments
- Kindergarten Rhythm Lessons & Resources
- 1st Grade Rhythm Lessons & Resources
- steady beat resources
- beat vs. rhythm
This book is full of fun sounds that emulate instruments and environmental sounds.
Extras for Plus Members
(or available for purchase here)
- Beat or No Beat Digital & Printable Visuals
Steady Beat


No Beat


- Assessments



1 thought on “Beat vs. No Beat”
I liked this post. It gave me some ideas for teaching steady beat virtually.
Thank you