Year 11 - Music
Fundamentals of rhythm and tempo
Understanding metre, rhythm, dynamics and articulation
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Unit Summary
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Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe tempo accurately and can identify key rhythmic concepts by ear.
Key Notes
- There are many different Italian terms to describe tempo, including largo, allegro and presto.
- Tempo can also be measured in beats per minute (BPM).
- Accelerando, ritardando and rubato change the tempo during a composition.
- Some of the most common rhythmic features include syncopation, rhythmic motifs and cells and rhythmic repetition.
Vocabulary To Learn
- rubato: when a performer slightly changes the tempo to add expression
- accelerando: a gradual speeding up of tempo
- ritardando: a gradual slowing down of tempo; rallentando creates a similar effect
- swing quavers: the first quaver in each pair has a slightly longer duration than the second quaver
- syncopated: a rhythm that emphasises notes in between the main beats
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Tempo markings are a precise indication of speed.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
There are many different Italian terms to describe tempo, including largo, allegro and presto. Tempo can also be measured in beats per minute (BPM).
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'rubato'
when a performer slightly changes the tempo to add expression.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Tempo markings are a precise indication of speed. Correction: Most tempo markings (like allegro) are a rough indication of the speed, but not an exact measurement. Composers usually leave it up to the performers to determine the exact speed. Often in modern music they will indicate a specific speed using BPM.
More Lessons In This Unit
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