Note values and rhythms
Lesson time: (1min 35sec)
Understand note values and rhythm basics, including quarter, half, and whole notes, and how tempo affects pacing.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Piano Method: First Steps
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
In this lesson, we’ll learn about note values. Notes can last different lengths: a quarter note (1 beat), a half note (2 beats), and a whole note (4 beats). Rhythm tells us how long each note should sound. Tempo indicates the speed of a piece; for instance, a tempo of 90 means 90 beats per minute. Using a metronome can help keep consistent timing. Practice counting beats with me as we try different note values, then we’ll try it with tempo!
About the instructor
Talia Girton is a musician and HCPC-registered music therapist, and the founder of The Cycling Music Teachers. Her work brings together music therapy, counselling and education, and she tutors internationally on the music therapy training course at UDELAS in Panama as well as contributing to professional development with the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA). On MusicGurus she teaches the Piano Method and Piano Foundations courses, guiding complete beginners from first steps through rhythm, both hands, theory and performance. read more