Simple Meters
First Quarter, Lesson 1
Meter
● It is the grouping of accented and unaccented
beats
● It is classified into two, the SIMPLE meter and
COMPOUND meter.
● Simple meters can be in simple DUPLE, simple
TRIPLE, or simple QUADRUPLE
Look how beats are grouped in every meter
2 Simple Duple Meter
4
3
Simple Triple Meter
4
Simple
4 Quadruple
4 Meter
Time Signature
● Tells the meter of the written music
● It can be found at the beginning of the
musical piece
2 Tells the number of beats
4 Tells that the quarter note
gets one beat
Conducting Patterns
Duple Triple Quadruple
Meter Meter Meter
Rhythmic Pattern
● It is an arrangement of notes and rests.
● It also comes in simple duple, simple triple, or simple
quadruple meters
● They are grouped by a bar line. Every group is
called measure.
Notes and Rests
Dotted and Mixed notes
HALF the value of
the note before it
2 1 3 1/2 1/4 1/4 1
Let’s Review
Identify the time value for each symbol, and add it all together.
6 + ½ + 1/2 + 1 =8
Let’s Review
Identify the time value for each symbol, and add it all together.
1 + 2 + ¼ + 1/4 = 3½
Let’s Review
Identify the time value for each symbol, and add it all together.
1 + 4 + 3 + ½ =8½
Tempo
Tempo
● It is the speed of the beat of music
● It can range from very slow to very fast
● Italian words are used to mark the tempo of a musical
piece - tempo markings.
Tempo Markings
Terms Meaning
Largo Very slow
Lento Slow
Adagio Slow, but not as slow as largo
Andante At a walking pace
Tempo Markings
Terms Meaning
Moderato moderate
Allegretto Pretty lively
Allegro fast
Vivace Lively and fast (quicker than
allegro)
Presto Very fast
Tempo Markings
Terms Meaning
Ritardando (rit.) Gradually getting slow
Accelerando Gradually getting fast
