Syncopation Lesson

Teaching the concept of syncopation is not an easy task.  One must start with the basics of steady beat and progress through the process with the students.  If you can help them understand that syncopation is nothing more than shifting the beat from the strong beat to a weak beat, they'll get it.  They may feel it in their bodies long before their brain figures out what's going on with the beat.

Today, I used a rhythmic piece by Bob DeFrece called, "Mouth Sound Piece."  I taught it by rote (on the syllable "choo") and we determined that lines 1, 2 and 4 were exactly the same.  Line 3 was complimentary, but was unlike the other three lines.  After labeling the syncopated portion with the syllables "syn-co-pa," I asked the students to work in groups to try to lay out the rhythmic pattern of the piece.  They never saw it written down.  They had to use their memory, auditory skills and rhythmic reading abilities to accomplish the task.

 

working in groups

tah, tah, ti-ti tah, syn-co-pa-tah (rest)

tah, tah, ti-ti tah, syn-co-pa-tah (rest)

syn-co-pa, syn-co-pa, syn-co-pa tah tah

tah, tah, ti-ti tah, syn-co-pa-tah (rest)

 

So proud of their finished product!!

Until next time...