Rhythm: Simple & Compound Time educational pack - Perform Compose Understand PCU Series
by Austin Ralphson
Large Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

Large Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.569856

Composed by Austin Ralphson. Instructional. Score and parts. 92 pages. Austin Ralphson #4731861. Published by Austin Ralphson (A0.569856).

Rhythm: Simple & Compound Time - Perform, Compose, Understand Series. This pack comprises a piece called What Time Is It?, worksheets and questions which relate to the piece. It is all about understanding these two metrics, although it asks many other general musical questions as well.

Welcome to the PCU Series for classroom-based groups. This series focuses on learning by doing; there are many accomplished performers within our school classrooms throughout the world, but my years of experience has taught me that many of these students learn to play by rote – literally be learning one note followed by another – without gaining full understanding of how the pieces work musically and theoretically. Indeed, some of them can perform to a high standard using this method, but then really struggle with composition and general musical understanding later in their educational careers.

I equate this to learning to speak sentences in a foreign language without fully understanding what those sentences actually mean.

"So who is this book for?"

It is for music teachers to use with their students who are learning to create exam-level compositions within a school environment. It is ideal for courses such as the American High School Diploma, GCSE, BTEC, IGCSE, SCS, HKCEE, IB(MYP), SPM, GCEO, CCEF, HKCEE, VSSD, GES or ICSE.

It is designed to cater for almost any instrument due to the parts being provided in many different keys and clefs (including tab and bass tab). Drum parts are intentionally not provided as drummers still need to have a good understanding of non-percussive elements such as melody and harmony; I would suggest that they play a keyboard part for the purposes of learning about composition.

You can also download backing tracks of all pieces in this series by searching:

Classroom Performance educational pack: RHYTHM backing tracks

These contain parts 2-5, allowing part 1 to be played live over the top.

How to use this resource

This pack comprises three stages, the third of which should be gained from success with the first two:

1. Performing

An original performance piece is provided for mixed classroom ensemble. This piece features a musical device of some kind as its focus. There will obviously be other musical components included within the piece as well, but the main element will be very apparent.

2. Composing

Worksheets are provided to enable students to develop their own compositions based on the same focus as the performance piece. Elements of the performance piece are highlighted and short, developmental activities will lead to the students developing their own musical ideas.

3. Understanding          

Summary worksheets are provided to enable students to demonstrate their understanding of the topic.

There are two musical elements which appear in all pieces within this PCU series. They are dynamics and articulation. All performance pieces contain them and opportunity is provided to include them within the composing exercises as well.

Printing and Copying

The purchaser may print or copy all pages of this resource as required, but must not distribute to others. It is advised to produce resources for students as follows:

* Print which ever parts are needed to facilitate a performance

* Produce a booklet containing the title page, score and worksheets.

The performance piece could also be used for the performing component of your examined course as well if appropriate.

** Also look out for the other packs in the PCU Series which cover melody, rhythm, structure, texture and harmony. Multi-pack deals are also available. **