Music and Movement: Rhythm, Tempo, and Spatial Skills

Rhythm

The organization of time in movement or music.

Underlying Beat

The steady beat that divides time into equal parts and forms the base of music.

Tempo

The speed of the beat in music (fast, moderate, or slow).

Moderate Tempo

A medium speed that is best for beginners because it is easier to control movements.

Accent

A beat or movement that is emphasized or stronger than others.

Measure

A group of beats between accents in music.

Time Signature

Numbers that show how many beats are in a measure and which note gets one beat.

Meter

Another word for time signature.

Pattern

A sequence of movements or beats with different speeds (fast and slow).

Phrase

A musical 'sentence' made up of several measures.

Separate

Teaching using only one method at a time (visual, verbal, or hands-on).

Simplify

Breaking a movement into its easiest parts to help students succeed.

Facilitate

Asking guiding questions to help students think while they move.

Visual Model

Students copy what the teacher does.

Verbal Instruction

Students listen to directions without watching a demonstration.

Kinesthetic (Hands-on) Guidance

Teacher gently moves the student's body after explaining and asking permission.

Say

Say the movement word without moving.

Say and Do

Say the word and perform the movement at the same time.

Whisper and Do

Whisper the word while doing the movement.

Think and Do

Do the movement without saying the word.

Beat Awareness

Feeling and showing the beat using simple movements.

Beat Competency

Being able to move accurately to a steady beat.

Beat Competent

When a student can perform stage IV movements correctly.

Bilateral Symmetrical Movement

Same movement on both sides of the body at the same time.

Alternating Movement

Moving one side of the body, then the other.

Asymmetrical Movement

Each side of the body does something different.

Tracking Movement

Moving one body part, then moving another to a new place.

Mirroring

Students copy the teacher as if looking in a mirror.

Locomotor Movement

Movement that travels through space.

Nonlocomotor Movement

Movement done in place without traveling.

Personal Space

The space around a person without moving across the room.

General Space

The shared space where people move around others.

Walk

Moving by transferring weight from one foot to the other without leaving the ground.

Run

Moving quickly with a moment when both feet leave the ground.

Leap

Moving from one foot to the other with a longer time in the air.

Jump

Taking off and landing on both feet.

Hop

Taking off and landing on the same foot.

Gallop

An uneven movement using a long-short rhythm with one foot leading.

Slide

A sideways gallop using a long-short rhythm.

Skip

A combination of a step and a hop in an uneven rhythm.

Bending

Bringing body parts closer together at a joint.

Straightening

Moving body parts farther apart.

Twisting

Rotating a body part while staying in place.

Turning

Rotating the whole body around an axis.

Swinging

Back-and-forth movement below an axis.

Swaying

Back-and-forth movement above an axis.

Curling

Making the body into a curved shape.

Stretching

Making the body long or straight.