Rhythm pattern cards are a great way to teach new rhythmic concepts, reinforce familiar patterns, and build that all-important music vocabulary (the ability to understand and create your own musical patterns and sequences).
There are many types of rhythm pattern cards—some you can buy, some you can download and print for free (like the set I'm sharing below!), and ideas for making some of your own.
They don’t have to be fancy! The ones I'm sharing can be printed at home on white cardstock and cut into quarters (postcard-size).
Having a few sets of rhythm pattern cards on hand can be a helpful way to capture the attention of young learners and help prepare them for new pieces (and have fun!).
In this post, I rounded up 36 fun ways to use rhythm pattern cards in your teaching. Whether you’re looking for ideas for your children’s choir rehearsal or piano studio, games to play at music and arts camp, or activities to break up a band or orchestra rehearsal, I hope you find a few new ideas on this list. Enjoy!
A Few Quick Teaching Tips:
Establish a steady beat before you begin. Encourage everyone to keep the beat for themselves in their heels or by tapping lightly over their heart.
If speaking rhythm patterns as a group, include a count-off measure before you begin so everyone starts together.
Use a neutral syllable first (e.g. “bah”), then introduce a counting method (e.g. ta, ti-ti; du, du-de; 1, 2 +; etc.)
I recommend having at least two sets of rhythm pattern cards:
One in a duple meter like 2/4 or 4/4
One in a triple meter like 3/4
If possible, make a card to go at the beginning that shows just the time signature so the children get used to seeing how the beats are organized.
36 Ways to Use Rhythm Pattern Cards in Your Teaching
AURAL SKILLS
Repeated-Note Rhythm for Warm-Ups
Whisper Rhythms
Rhythm Squeeze
Hear It, Clap It, Write It
Rhythm Telephone
Rhythm Whispers
READING SKILLS
Rhythm Memory
Sight-Reading from a New Anthem
Name That Tune
Pie Game
Two-Part Tango
Candy Bar Rhythms
Christmas Carol Rhythm Match-Ups
CREATIVITY
Wild Card Challenge
Rhythmic Dictation
Rhythmic Composing (putting cards into new order + performing)
Free Rhythm Pattern
Card Set
This free printable card set features 16 rhythm pattern cards in 4/4 time. Use them for call-and-response, a composition-based gathering activity, teaching a new song or anthem, or developing musical awareness and listening skills.
MOVEMENT & INSTRUMENTS
Play with Recordings
Body Percussion Rhythms
Rhythm Machine
Rhythm Canon
Rhythm Dance & Freeze
LISTEN & RESPOND
What Kind of Pie?
What’s That Pattern?
Rhythm Bingo
Swat-a-Rhythm
Rhythm Envelope Game
Rhythm Clock
GOOD GROUP GAMES
Rhythm Train
King of the Mountain
Rhythm Go Fish
Rhythm Dominoes
Heads Up, Rhythm Up
Rhythm Tic-Tac-Toe
Sparkle
Rollin’ Rhythms
Bang!
Help your students learn the language of music.
Need more than the free rhythm pattern card set? Develop strong rhythmic-reading skills with this printable collection of rhythm pattern cards. This printable set features 192 different patterns using quarter notes, half notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and quarter rests in quadruple and triple meters.
I’d love to hear from you:
What are your favorite ways to use rhythm pattern cards? I'd love to hear your ideas!
