Minds On
Today’s vocabulary
Press the following tabs to access today’s vocabulary.
Let’s get started
The pulse of a piece of music is the beat. It is steady, much like a heartbeat.
Explore the following clip from Chrome Music Lab which demonstrates how a steady beat is created.
The following image demonstrates how a steady beat is created just like in the clip.
The image displays 8 columns. Underneath the columns there are numbers and “+” (and) signs used for counting in this pattern, 1 under the first column + under the second column 2 under the third column + under the fourth column 3 under the fifth column + under the sixth column 4 under the 7th column and + under the eighth column. A triangle is located over each “+” sign which represents the rhythm that is played “off” the beat.
Explore the following musical clip. In this piece of music, we can count to four to keep the beat. If possible, try to move along to the beat. You may to clap, tap, or count in any way you choose.
Leaning Back Again
Pause and Reflect
Pause and reflect
Reflect on the following questions:
- Is this style of music familiar to you?
- How did you feel when you experienced this tune?
- What mood does this piece of music have?
Press ‘Let’s Check’ to reveal possible ideas.
Upbeat, light and playful.
Record your thoughts in a method of your choice.
Action
Get ready, get set…
Calypso music
Explore the clip of music once again that was introduced in the Minds On.
Leaning Back Again
The style of music that is being introduced is called Calypso music. Calypso music is Afro-Caribbean music that began in the nation of Trinidad and Tobago and spread throughout the West Indies.
It was inspired by a West African music style called “kaiso” music.
Calypso music combines French, English, Spanish and African influences.
Calypso musicians sing in French Creole language and tell stories with their songs.
Did You Know
Did you know?
West African “Kaiso” music and West Indies Caribbean Calypso music use story tellers in their music called a “griot”. A griot was a singing travelling musician who worked as a storyteller, poet, entertainer historian all wrapped into one. In some early African societies, the main job of a griot was to entertain the villagers with stories about kings, famous heroes, and lessons about behaviors and how people should behave to make their village stronger.
Griots also kept track of important dates and history of the village so that the information could be passed down from generation to generation.
Calypso music can be recognized by its use of a special rhythm pattern known as syncopation. Syncopation in music creates fun and excitement.
Syncopation is created by highlighting a note that wouldn’t normally be highlighted in a melody. It goes against the usual pattern and puts an accent on the weak beats.
Let’s learn more about what this means.
To start, explore the following Chrome Music Lab Clip once again that demonstrated a steady beat which highlights the strong beats.
The following image demonstrates a steady beat which highlights the strong beats.
This image displays 8 columns. Underneath the columns there are numbers and “+” (and) signs used for counting in this pattern, 1 under the first column, + under the second column, 2 under the third column, + under the fourth column, 3 under the fifth column, + under the sixth column, 4 under the 7th column, and + under the eighth column. A circle is located over each number (1,2,3,4) which represents the rhythm that is played “ON” the beat. Arrows point and each space that has a circle and a number to demonstrate playing on the on beat.
In the following image, the hearts represent four beats. The note inside the heart shows when to count the beat. This is called musical notation.
Press ‘Musical notation’ to reveal what this word means.
Musical notation means using symbols to represent the pitches and melody.
4 hearts are in a row. The hearts have 2 halves, a side with a number and a side with an “+” or “and”. This counting is underneath each heart. 1 + is under the first heart, 2 + under the second heart, 3 + under the third heart and 4 + under the 4th heart. On the left side of each heart, above the numbers, there is an eighth note that is called “ti” . This “ti” is played when you count each number. The“ti”’s in this bar are is counted ON the beat.
Two teachers talking. The first teacher says:
This note is called a quarter note? When playing this note, it can also be called “ta”.” Ta” is held for a whole beat.
The second teacher responds:
This note is called an eighth note? When playing this note, it can also be called “ti”. ”Ti” is short and held for only half of a beat
Throughout this learning activity, we will use the terms “ta” for a quarter note and “ti” for an eighth note.
Learning about the offbeat
Explore the following clip. In this clip, the notes that are played are played “offbeat”.
Press ‘Offbeat’ to reveal what this word means.
Offbeat: These are notes that are not being played on the beat.
The following image demonstrates how notes are played “offbeat”.
The image displays 8 columns. Underneath the columns there are numbers and “+” (and) signs used for counting in this pattern, 1 under the first column + under the second column 2 under the third column + under the fourth column 3 under the fifth column + under the sixth column 4 under the 7th column and + under the eighth column. A triangle is located over each “+” sign which represents the rhythm that is played “off” the beat. Arrows are point and each space that have a triangle and an “+” to demonstrate playing the “off beat”.
Let’s explore this using different symbols.
4 hearts are in a row. The hearts have 2 halves, a side with a number and a side with an “+” or “and”. This counting is underneath each heart. 1 + is under the first heart, 2 + under the second heart, 3 + under the third heart and 4 + under the 4th heart. On the right side of each heart, above the “+” there is an eighth note that is called “ti” This “ti” is counted on the “+” which is OFF the beat.
Use the method of your choice (counting out loud, tapping, patting knees) to play along with the rhythm on the offbeat. Play the offbeat notes with a stress or accent (more volume or force).
The image displays 8 columns. Underneath the columns there are numbers and “+” (and) signs used for counting in this pattern, 1 under the first column + under the second column 2 under the third column + under the fourth column 3 under the fifth column + under the sixth column 4 under the 7th column and + under the eighth column. A triangle is located over each “+” sign which represents the rhythm that is played “off” the beat. Arrows are point and each space that have a triangle and an “+” to demonstrate playing the “off beat”.
Exploring the offbeat in music
Explore the following melody. This musical piece called “Shake the Papaya” demonstrates how Calypso Rhythm is played.
The piece uses notes that are both on and off the beat. It is creating a syncopated rhythm at the beginning of each bar that repeats.
This syncopated rhythm is represented using an eighth note, then a quarter note, an eighth note, then a quarter note, then another quarter note.
Press ‘Syncopation’ to reveal what this word means.
Syncopation: highlighting a note that wouldn’t normally be highlighted.
The syncopated rhythm can also be played as “ti-ta-ti-ta-ta”.
These are notes on a staff. The first note is an eighth note (ti), then a quarter note (ta) then an eighth note (ti) then a quarter note (ta) then one more quarter note (ta).
“Shake the Papaya”
This is a play along video for the song “Shake the Papaya”. In it, individual notes are highlighted as they are played. The rhythm the music is playing is the syncopated rhythm “ti-ta-ti-tata” with an eighth note, a quarter note, and eighth note, a quarter and a quarter. This rhythm is repeated 7 times and the song ends with a dotted half note and a rest in the last bar.
Access this video entitled “Shake the Papaya” to learn more about syncopated rhythm.
Here is the same piece of music represented in notes on a 5-line staff.
The image shows 8 bars of music in the treble clef with one flat. All bars of music each have the syncopated ti-ta-ti-ta-ta rhythm until the last bar that contains a dotted half note and a quarter rest.
The melodic contour in each bar follows this pattern: Middle- high- middle- low –low through the whole song, until the very end which ends on a middle-pitched note.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
What do you notice about the rhythm in this piece of music?
Do you recognize the ti-ta-ti-ta-ta syncopated rhythm using the quarter notes and eighth notes in each bar?
Let’s explore another syncopated rhythm.
In this clip, a syncopated rhythm is represented using Chrome Music Lab.
The image displays 8 columns. Underneath the columns there are numbers and “+” (and) signs used for counting in this pattern, 1 under the first column containing a circle, + under the second column 2 containing a triangle, 2 under the third column is empty, + under the fourth column containing a triangle, 3 under the fifth column containing a circle, + under the sixth column which is empty, 4 under the 7th column containing a circle, and + under the eighth column which is empty.
Let’s explore this rhythm in a different way, using different symbols.
Press the following tabs to access the different symbols.
In this image there are 4 hearts are in a row. The first heart has a “ti” eighth note over top of the number 1 on the left side. This is followed by a quarter note, “ta”, over top of the “+” sign on the right side of the first heart.
A grey arrow points to the right, going into the second heart, extending through the number 2 on the first half. On the right side of the second heart above the “+” there is an eighth note. The third heart contains a Quarter note over the number 3 and “+” and the fourth heart also has a quarter note over the number 4 and “+’.
In this image there is a sequence of 5 notes in a rhythm pattern. The notes are in the following order: eighth with a “1“below, quarter with “+ 2” below, an eighth with an “+” sign below, a quarter with “3+” below and lastly, a quarter with “4+” below.
The words underneath the counting say ti-ta-ti-ta-ta, When this rhythm is played, the accent is on the word ta which is held a bit longer which is shown by arrows extending the sound to the right.
Explore the Chrome music Lab clip that demonstrates the syncopated rhythm.
Student Tips
Helpful strategy
As you are exploring the clip, match the rhythm with the words “Shake the Papaya” as this can be used as a strategy to play the rhythm correctly if you need to play it in a piece.
Access this video entitled “Chrome Music Lab Syncopated Rhythm Clip” to learn more about syncopated rhythm.
The image displays 8 columns. Underneath the columns there are numbers and “+” (and) signs. The pattern of the sequence is as follows: 1 under the first column containing a circle over the word “ti”. An “+” under the second column 2 containing a triangle over the word “ta” with an arrow extending to the right, though the 2 under the third column is which is empty. An “+” under the fourth column containing a triangle with the word “ti”. The 3 under the fifth column contains a circle with an arrow extending to the right past the + under the sixth column which is empty. A 4 under the 7th column containing a circle and a “ta” note with an arrow that extends right under the “+” which is under the eighth column that is empty.
Use the method of your choice (counting out loud, tapping, patting knees) to play along with the syncopated rhythm.
Go!
Now that we have investigated how a syncopated rhythm is created, lets revisit the song “Shake the Papaya” The syncopated rhythm can be played as “ti-ta-ti-ta-ta”.
This is a play along video for the song. Individual notes are highlighted as they are played. The rhythm the music is playing is the syncopated rhythm “ti-ta-ti-tata” with an eighth note, a quarter note, and eighth note, a quarter and a quarter. This rhythm is repeated 7 times and the song ends with a dotted half note and a rest in the last bar.
The image shows 8 bars of music in the treble clef with one flat. All bars of music each have the syncopated ti-ta-ti-ta-ta rhythm until the last bar that contains a dotted half note and a quarter rest.
The melodic contour in each bar follows this pattern: Middle- high- middle- low –low through the whole song, until the very end which ends on a middle-pitched note.
What do you notice about this syncopated rhythm in this piece of music?
Press ‘Let’s Check’ to reveal a possible answer.
The pattern is repeated.
Explore the following image. It is the written notation for the song “Shake the Papaya”
What do you notice about this syncopated rhythm in this piece of music?
Press ‘Let’s Check’ to reveal a possible answer.
The syncopated rhythm is using an eighth note followed by a quarter note and an eighth note (“ti-ta-ti”).
Let’s investigate!
Investigate the music. Identify the bars of music that show the syncopated Calypso rhythm.
- How many times is the rhythm repeated?
- How is the last bar of music different than the others?
The image shows 8 bars of music in the treble clef with one flat. All bars of music each have the syncopated ti-ta-ti-ta-ta rhythm until the last bar that contains a dotted half note and a quarter rest.
The melodic contour in each bar follows this pattern: Middle- high- middle- low –low through the whole song, until the very end which ends on a middle-pitched note.
Press ‘Let’s Check’ to reveal the answer.
The syncopated rhythm is repeated seven times. The last bar of music is different because it does not follow the pattern. It has a dotted half note worth three beats followed by a quarter rest.
The image shows 8 bars of music in the treble clef with one flat. All bars of music each have the syncopated ti-ta-ti-ta-ta rhythm. Each bar has been circled to show that it contains the syncopated rhythm. The last bar that contains a dotted half note and a quarter rest has been circled differently to show that it is different than the rest. A label attached to it reads “this bar is different because it has a dotted half note worth three beats followed by a quarter rest.
Learning check!
Explore the following bars of music. Identify which of the 4 bar musical phrases contain a syncopated rhythm.
Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to see how you did.
Consolidation
Putting it all together
Now it is time to become the composer and create your own syncopated rhythm.
Create your syncopated rhythm rearranging the notes provided.
As a reference you can say “ti-ta-ti-ta-ta”.
Let’s explore a ten frame to place the syncopated notes in sequence.
Describe the bar of music you created using the names of each note in order (check answer: eighth note, quarter note, eighth note, quarter note, quarter note).
Does it match the syncopated pattern “ti-ta-ti-ta-ta”?
If possible, play your rhythm as you have it written. You may use tapping, patting, clucking your tongue or a method of your choice.
As an option, play the clip of the song “Shake the Papaya”. Use the rhythm you just created to accompany the song.
Press the following tabs to access the clip and image for the song “Shake the Papaya”.
The image shows 8 bars of music in the treble clef with one flat. All bars of music each have the syncopated ti-ta-ti-ta-ta rhythm until the last bar that contains a dotted half note and a quarter rest.
The melodic contour in each bar follows this pattern: Middle- high- middle- low –low through the whole song, until the very end which ends on a middle pitched note.
Reflection
As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.