Download Roll the Dice Rhythm Activity

Name ________________________
Room #______
ROLL THE RHYTHM!
Roll your dice. The number tells you which rhythm pattern you’ll play.
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Now create a rhythm piece by rolling the dice once for each box.
Write the patterns in the boxes and play your whole piece.
If you don’t have any measure with syncopation, change one so that you do.
If you don’t like a measure, change it to a pattern you think will sound better.
Use this rhythm piece to create a pentatonic song.
Follow the 10 Steps on the back of this page.
When you are finished check to make sure your song:
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Has at least ONE measure with SYNCOPATION
ONLY uses the pitches from the pentatonic scale on the 10 Steps sheet.
ends on the tonal center you chose.
uses the tonal center at least 4 times.
only uses notes you know how to play on the recorder.
has your name on it.
A Syncopated Song in 10 Easy Steps
STEP ONE: Go to Armstrong’s music website and click on the Student Composition
Projects
page. Open the Finale NotePad file and then save it to your folder on the
server.
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STEP TWO: Using the Note Palette put the rhythm patterns from your worksheet on the
empty staff. ALL notes must be put on your tonal center.
Tonal center choices for this song are:
CIRCLE the one you will use.
t
t
G
E
STEP THREE: Listen to the rhythm of your song by using the PLAY button.
If you don’t like the way it sounds, try rearranging the measures by
copying and pasting or choose a different pattern from your worksheet.
STEP FOUR: Look at the pentatonic scale below
These are the pitches you may use for your song.
D
E
G
A
B
D
STEP FIVE: Move the notes on your score away from the tonal center by using
the arrow keys on your computer keyboard.
STEP SIX: Be sure to keep the last note on the tonal center and at leave at least four other
notes on the tonal center as well.
STEP SEVEN: Play your song to be sure you like how it sounds. Make changes if needed.
STEP EIGHT: You can try playing your song on your recorder. If it’s too fast, change the
speed using the Tempo tool:
STEP NINE: Using the text tool, put your name on your score and also give it a title. You
can put the date at the bottom where it says “copyright”.
STEP TEN: Read over the checklist under your song to be sure you’re completely finished.