Rhythmic Flashcards

Flash cards can be a great way to practise and assess known rhythms. Some suggestions on how to use them are on the right

Teaching Suggestions:

• Students say time names and clap rhythms as they are shown each flash card by the teacher.
• Students keep particular types of rhythms on their heads, knees etc. For example, ‘tas’ on their heads, ‘ti-tis’ on knees, and clap ‘tum-tis’.
• Students clap the rhythm on the flash cards in one hand while keeping the beat with their other hand.
• Students stamp the rhythm on the flash cards while clapping the beat.
• Line up 4 flash cards – each 4 beats in length. Students clap the entire rhythm. The teacher turns over one flash card. Students clap the entire rhythm, having to clap the reversed flash card from memory. After the complete 16 beat rhythm is clapped each time, another card is reversed until all 16 beats are from memory. You may like to get students to write down the rhythm once they have memorised it.
• Line up 4 flash cards. Students clap all four cards from beginning to end and then immediately clap the rhythm backwards.
• Line up 4 or more flash cards. Students begin clapping and saying rhythm. When the teacher signals (eg with a chord on the piano/ playing triangle/ putting hand on head) the class begins keeping rhythm in their heads. When the teacher signals again, the class resumes clapping and saying rhythms aloud.
• A flash card is shown to the class to use as an ostinato for a known song.
• A selection of flash cards are put in a row on the board. The teacher plays one of the rhythmic flash cards on a single note on piano and students need to figure out which rhythmic flash card the teacher played.
• Split the class into groups of 4 or 5. Each group sits in a line with a flash card in front of the leader turned upside down. When the teacher calls “go” the student at the front of the line turns the card over then taps the rhythm on the shoulder of the person behind them. The next person taps the rhythm on the person behind them and so on down the line. The last person writes down the rhythm or tells the rhythm to the teacher. The first team with the correct rhythm wins.
• Divide the class into 3. The class sing the rhythm names for each flash card. Group 1 sing rhythms on a “do”, group 2 sing on “me” and group 3 sing on “so”. Suggested starting pitch, do=C or do=D (Can do this activity with students playing recorder or xylophone instead of singing.)