3.1.4 Asymmetry & Syncopation

Learners can:

• apply counting symbols based on written rhythmic passages with asymmetry and syncopation
• practice rhythmic dictation
• perform rhythmic passages with asymmetry and syncopation with counting symbols
• write a rhythm pattern using syncopation

Vocabulary: asymmetric meter, syncopation, tie

Rhythm Clap Along Warm-Up

Counting System

• beat number (one, two, three, and more)
• and (+)
• “ee” (e)
• “uh” (a)
• “trip-o-let”

Always read the time signature first!

Review & Practice

Aural Dictation & Counting

Write the rhythm heard in the audio

Write the rhythm heard in the audio

Asymmetric Meter

• An asymmetric meter has an uneven pulse or beats that cannot be divided evenly
• This could include a mix of simple and compound beat division in various patterns

Asymmetric Meter Example

Asymmetric Meter Example

Syncopation

• Syncopation occurs when a rhythm is accented on an off-beat or in between the beats of the music
• The accented off-beat is represented by the “and” (+) of the beat
• This accent gives the music a unique feel, as it comes where it typically would not be expected
• Typically changes where the strong/weak beats are felt in a measure

Define the vocabulary terms

Asymmetry & Subdivision

Strong Beats

• Asymmetry creates unique, uneven patterns of strong/weak beats
• A strong beat is a beat that is emphasized, or accented.
• A weak beat is a beat that is not emphasized, or unaccented.
• Beats can have duple or triple subdivision, making the beats asymmetrical when both types of subdivision are used

Weak Beats

Strong Beats Highlighted

Weak Beats Highlighted

Duple (2) and Triple (3) Subdivisions

Asymmetric Patterns

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine subdivision groupings 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Asymmetric Patterns

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine subdivision groupings 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Asymmetric Patterns

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine subdivision groupings 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Asymmetric Patterns

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine subdivision groupings 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Asymmetric Patterns

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine subdivision groupings 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Asymmetric Patterns

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine subdivision groupings 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Asymmetric Patterns

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine subdivision groupings 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Tied Notes

• In some cases of syncopation, dotted rhythms may not fit within a measure
• A tie can connect two notes of any rhythmic value to create a longer, sustained sound by combining the two rhythmic values into one note

Syncopated Rhythms

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine the strong/weak beats 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Syncopated Rhythms

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine the strong/weak beats 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Syncopated Rhythms

1. Read the time signature 2. Feel the steady beat 3. Think through the counts 4. Determine the strong/weak beats 5. Speak the counts with the metronome 6. Perform the rhythm by clapping, tapping, or using your rhythm sticks

Write the rhythm heard in the audio

Answer

Syncopation

• Syncopation can make music more varied and interesting by accenting a normally un-emphasized part of the music
• emphasizing beats that are normally considered weak beats, the "offbeat" or "upbeat"
• Used a lot in jazz, rap, and funk music

More Examples

Compose a two-measure rhythm in 4/4 using syncopation.

Summary

In today's lesson, you:

• applied counting symbols based on written rhythmic passages with asymmetry and syncopation
• practiced rhythmic dictation
• performed rhythmic passages with asymmetry and syncopation with counting symbols
• wrote a rhythm pattern using syncopation

In a future lesson, you will review conepts from this topic and take a quiz