Classifying simple or compound time signatures
Taking into account what you have studied in the theory video, drag the time signature to the correct box.
Taking into account what you have studied in the theory video, drag the time signature to the correct box.
You have already studied that duple meter means that the time is divided into two beats and the stress falls on one(the first) of every two beats while in triple meter, a beat (the first one) of every three is accented. To start working with compound time signature, let's practise the duple-triple and triple-duple combinations. You have also studied about the qualities of sound, accents, beats, tempo, music phrase and how to place sound in a stave, so, now, it is the moment to work with beat subdivisions, especially with triple subdivision (every beat is subdivided into three). And as we are talking about how to keep the beat and the beat subdivisions, why don't we read something about a music pedagogue, Dalcroze, who researched about this? Click on his name to get the information.
Following Dalcroze method, some movements are going to accompany the exercises to help you recognise and perform the rhythm change. Listen first to these two sounf files. The first one starts with duple subdivision and finishes with triple and the second one starts with a triple subdivision and finishes with a duple one.
1. Quavers grouped in 2 and 3. We count two or three as it is indicated. Quavers have all the same length.

2. Now it is the same but performing three beats first and then two. Look at the image and watch the video.

3. It is time for a duple-triple combination which will be repeated four times.

4. Now, the other way round, first triple+ duple combination which will be repeated four times. Keep on practising till you can do it properly, fluently and with no doubts.

Now that you have practised the motifs, watch this video which combines both and rehearse till you can perform it at the same speed.
6. Have you got a balloon? You need one. Once it is blown up, push it up a bit to represent duple and farther up to represent triple. Watch the video to get the idea. You can do it while sitting down or walking around the classroom.
7. Finally, you need a tambourine to perform this exercise. We are going to practise the beat unit, duple = crotchet and triple = dotted crotchet instead of the beat subdivision. Watch the video and write the duple-triple sequence you are seeing. Then play it at the same time as the video.
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