Music Lesson: Practicing the Quarter Note Rest

In this example, we're going to practice the quarter note rest.

Overview

• There will be a quarter note rest on:
  • Beat four in the first bar
  • Beat four in the second bar
  • Beat four in the fourth bar

Exercise

• In bar three, you just play the snare drum on every beat of the bar.

Here we go:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Sticking Technique

If you're wondering what sticking to use because it's not specified at this stage, follow this general rule:

• If I'm playing quarter notes and not eighth notes, I'll stick to right, left, right.
• When there's a rest on beat four, I'll pretend my left hand has played it.

Tips

• If you want to, you can sort of air drum it—just be careful not to hit the snare drum.
• But if it helps you stay in that sticking, you can do that.

Variations

• Of course, you could play them all with one hand.
• Practice playing them all with the right hand.
• Practice playing them all with the left hand.
• Feel free to get creative with it!

Starting Point

To begin:

• Treat beats 1 and 3 as right hand notes
• Treat beats 2 and 4 as left hand notes

Note:

• If you're right-handed, follow the above pattern.
• If you're left-handed, start with the left hand and reverse that.