4 ‘Super Easy’ Ways To Teach Rhythm And Beat In The Homeschool

Did you know that rhythm and beat make up a huge proportion of playing a musical instrument?

I mean anyone can play notes, but if they don’t keep to a specific beat and if the notes don’t have rhythm, do you think that we would like listening to it?

Did you also know that rhythm and beat can be taught by moms who have absolutely no knowledge or training in music?

Well, yes they can and in this post I’m going to tell you exactly how you can do that in 4 different ways. 

So let’s get started, shall we?

Clapping

Yes, it is as simple as that. Clapping in sync to a tune will automatically help your child to identify the pulse in the beat and then keep to it. 

Start with very easy tunes and then work yourself up to harder tunes. Think you can do that with your child? 

Have older kids who think that this is very childish? Then read my post 5 Important Reasons Why Your Child Needs To Learn To Clap. 

So what is the next easy method?

Tapping Feet

This is just like clapping for the hands but with your feet, isn’t it? Except you don’t tap the feet to one another, now wouldn’t that be funny?

If your kids are older and able to tap their feet to complicated rhythms then you should have them try a combination of tapping their feet and clapping their hands as well. 

Use A Metronome

Do you know what a metronome is? It is a device that helps keep time. 

Don’t have one and don’t know where to get one? No worries, here’s one I recommend. You can either buy it or try to get something similar second hand or for free. 

So how do you use it to teach rhythm and beat?

Set the metronome to a beat and ask your child to either clap her hands, tap her feet or follow the beat with chopsticks or some other objects.

Simple isn’t it?

As she becomes more proficient, you can increase the pace or decrease it and make it more complicated by asking her to tap her feet and clap her hands at the same time. 

Now to the most natural and interesting one of all. 

The Environment

Do you know that our environment is overflowing with different rhythms?

Can you think of any?

Think of a clock, windshield wipers, motors, washing machines, frogs croaking, crickets chirping, hearts beating. 

With really young kids, introduce them to some natural beats and then ask them to identify new ones. You will be amazed at the different rhythms they will recognize in our natural environment as well as at home. 

Once they are able to recognize these rhythms you can ask them to imitate each by clapping, tapping their feet or with chopsticks. 

With older kids you can simply skip the identification part and move to imitating the rhythms and beats. 

For bonus points you can create your own beat and ask your child to repeat it. 

Now over to you. 

What do you think of the ideas suggested above?

Can you think of any other ways to teach rhythm and beat in the homeschool?