BASIC NOTE VALUES
EXERCISE 1
This exercise is designed to make sure you can feel as well as understand the relationship between the basic note values — that is all of the note values that are related by 2, which you would learn in ABRSM Grade 1 theory.
1a - 1 : 2
In Exercise 1a, you will perform two parts that have a pulse relationship of 1 : 2 (1 against 2). That means [the 1] in one part, and [the 2] (the division of 2) in the other. Like so:
You should perform these two parts using a series of decreasing note values, with the overall tempo staying the same (so the note values will get shorter and quicker!):
semibreve : minims
minims : crotchets
crotchets : quavers
quavers : semiquavers
Note that at each stage the two note values that you are performing have a relationship of 1 : 2.
1b - 1 : 4
In Exercise 1b, you will perform two parts that have a pulse relationship of 1 : 4 (1 against 4). That means [the 1] in one part, and [the 4] (the division of 4) in the other. Like so:
As in the previous exercise, you should perform these two parts using a series of decreasing note values, with the overall tempo staying the same (so the note values will get shorter and quicker!):
semibreve : crotchets
minims : quavers
crotchets : semiquavers
Note that at each stage the two note values that you are performing have a relationship of 1 : 4.
1c - 1 : 8
In Exercise 1c, you will perform two parts that have a pulse relationship of 1 : 8 (1 against 8). That means [the 1] in one part, and [the 8] (the division of 8) in the other. Like so:
Again, you should perform these two parts using a series of decreasing note values, with the overall tempo staying the same (so the note values will get shorter and quicker!):
semibreve : quavers
minims : semiquavers
Note that at each stage the two note values that you are performing have a relationship of 1 : 8.
DOTTED NOTE VALUES
EXERCISE 2
(advanced)
This exercise is designed to make sure you can feel as well as understand dotted note values, which create a relationship of 1 : 3 (1 against 3).
In Exercise 2, you will perform two parts that have a pulse relationship of 1 : 3 (1 against 3). That means [the 1] in one part, and [the 3] (the division of 3) in the other. Like so:
Again, you should perform these two parts using a series of decreasing note values, with the overall tempo staying the same (so the note values will get shorter and quicker!). But beware, the relationship between these note values is not as straightforward as those related by 2!
dotted semibreve : minims
dotted minims : crotchets
dotted crotchets : quavers
dotted quavers : semiquavers
Note that at each stage the two note values that you are performing have a relationship of 1 : 3.