With Quick Fix Summer Song 4, we are tackling a specific half-note rhythm that can frustrate primer piano students.
Andrea and I have named this tricky rhythm, The Hobbled Half Note!
What is The Hobbled Half Note Rhythm? It is a measure of music that has a half note followed by two quarter notes.
While it seems simple, it is constantly tripping up young piano students.
In today’s post, we are sharing a primer piano solo with an emphasis on The Hobbled Half Note Rhythm. We’ll also dig a little deeper into why this specific rhythm can be so frustrating.
Fixing The Hobbled Half Note Rhythm
As mentioned at the beginning of the post, The Hobbled Half Note Rhythm is a measure of music that has a half note followed by two quarter notes.
We call it “The Hobbled Half Note Rhythm” because kids either stumble over the measure or clip the duration of the half note.
There are three reasons this rhythm is so problematic:
1. It Is Uncommon In Primer Repertoire
Primer students do not have many opportunities to play songs that regularly feature this rhythm. While I am not entirely sure why this is the case, part of the reason may have to do with the fact that this rhythm is not a common speech pattern, and if it does not commonly occur in speech, it is less likely to occur in song lyrics.
Because most primer piano music includes song lyrics, this rhythm would naturally pop up less in early method books.
2. It Interrupts The Inner Metronome
A typical measure of music in primer books will include four quarter notes or two quarter notes followed by a half note. Beginning with quarter notes sets the inner metronome in a child’s brain. Keeping a steady beat throughout the piece then becomes much more manageable.
But when a measure begins with a half note, students must press the note down on beat one and count that second beat in their heads. It is more difficult to hold a note and count for two beats than to play two notes and count two beats.
3. It interferes With Anticipatory Note Reading
When note reading, kids think in measures. When a half note appears at the end of a measure, it allows for a brief pause where students can look ahead to the next measure and read and anticipate the note that will be played.
Anticipatory note reading is not as easy with The Hobbled Half Note Rhythm. When a measure of music begins with a half note and ends with two quarter notes, the opportunity to read and anticipate the note that begins the next measure is lost.
Before You Fix The Hobbled Half Note Rhythm
Technical exercises should be a part of every piano lesson. But, because these exercises are generally short, students complete them fast and then run out of daily material.
This, however, does not happen when using Andrea and Trevor Dow’s Technical Exercises For Note Reading Success, Book One.
This resource for primer piano students contains 226 technical exercises that are designed to work out your students’ fingers and, most importantly, improve their note-reading skills.
Click here or on the cover below to learn more.
Download Today’s Quick Fix Piano Solo
Technique-focused piano songs sound boring. So, you can imagine how delighted your piano students will be when they play a technical tune that makes them smile!
With Mice Cream, the cute lyrics and adorable melody mean your piano students will have no idea they are playing a technical tune designed to improve their rhythmic abilities.
Click here or on the image below to download Mice Cream.
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