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Asymmetric Meters: Arithmetic

Goal: To prepare 5/8, 7/8, and 8/8 improvisations.

Out of Tempo

All Levels

“Out of Tempo” exercises are not presented separately in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV improvisations. Should any exercise prove difficult performed in tempo, out of tempo versions of the materials in Ear Training III and Ear Training IV can be modeled on Ear Training I and Ear Training II approaches to out of tempo improvisations.

In Tempo

Teacher sets up a tempo, time signature, tonality, and rhythms.

Phrases can be four to thirty-two measures in length depending on the student’s ability.

Start with one note per measure and add different rhythms as students become more comfortable with the exercise. For more confident students, use non-repeating notes and rhythm patterns.

Students sing one, two, three, or four notes per measure.

Speaking, singing, playing.

Refer to the Meter Smorgasbord for ideas.

Addition

Beginning

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap two beats, then clap two beats again and add a third beat.”
  2. Students do so.

Intermediate

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap three beats, then clap three beats again and add two beats.”
  2. Students do so.

Advanced

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap five beats, then clap five beats again and add two beats.”
  2. Students do so.

Subtraction

Beginning

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap eight beats, then remove one beat and clap seven beats.”
  2. Students do so.

Intermediate

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap seven beats, then remove two beats and clap five beats.”
  2. Students do so.

Advanced

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap five beats, then remove two beats and clap three beats.”
  2. Students do so.

Multiplication

Beginning

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap three beats four times, then two beats four times. Repeat four times.”
  2. Students do so.

Intermediate

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap five beats four times, then two beats four times. Repeat four times.”
  2. Students do so.

Advanced

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap seven beats four times, then eight beats four times. Repeat four times.”
  2. Students do so.

Division

This same process can be done with five-eight and seven-eight.

Beginning (eight-eight)

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap three beats slowly.”
  2. Students do so.
  3. Teacher prompts, “Divide the first clap in to three beats, the second clap in to three beats and the third clap in to two beats.”
  4. Students do so.

Intermediate

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap three beats slowly.”
  2. Students do so.
  3. Teacher prompts, “Divide the first clap in to three beats, the second clap in to two beats and the third clap in to three claps.”
  4. Students do so.

Advanced

  1. Teacher prompts, “Clap three beats slowly.”
  2. Students do so.
  3. Teacher prompts, “Divide the first clap in to two beats, the second clap in to three beats and the third clap in to three claps.”
  4. Students do so.