Reading Music #31: Quarter Rests

This reading music lesson is a supplement to the Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory self-study workbook. While no book is perfect for learning how to read music, this is one of the best available. The concise explanations, brief practice exercises, ear-training CD’s, glossary of music terms, and answer key make it an excellent value. Buy this top-rated self-study course for beginners to advanced musicians and follow along with me.
Best Self-Study Workbook
Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: A Complete Self-Study Course for All Musicians (Books 1-3 & 2 CDs)
$35.87

The best music theory book for self-study at home available today. Learn how to read and write music in 75 concise lessons you can complete at home. Improve your musical ear with ear-training exercises on 2 included CD's. Test yourself in a review section at the end of each unit. Check your knowledge with the answers in the back of the book.

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02/19/2024 01:04 am GMT

Quarter rests are those crazy little squiggly-looking symbols that are worth 1 beat of silence.

quarter rests

They are the quiet counterpart to quarter notes.

In fact, do you remember the conversation we had in an earlier lesson about the importance of both sound and silence in music?

Well, let’s review it again now that you have learned a few notes and rests.

Notes vs Rests

Every note (sound) in music has a corresponding rest (silence).

They have the same name and they even share the same value (total number of beats or counts).  Review the lesson on note values.

Here’s a quick list:

1) Quarter Note & Quarter Rest

quarter note & rest

2) Half Note & Half Rest

half note & rest

3) Whole Note & Whole Rest

whole note & rest

It’s time to shift gears again and talk about how we organize all these notes and rests to make it easier to read.  That’s coming up in the next lesson!

Rhythm Flashcards for Extra Practice

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: Rhythm Flash Cards
$12.99

48 rhythm flashcards with 96 different practice patterns that corresponds with the Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Book 1.

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02/19/2024 01:11 am GMT

Fun Rhythm Games

Rhythm in 5: Quick & effective rhythm games for private music lessons (Books for music teachers)
$9.95

25 different rhythm games that can be done in 5 minutes a day. The rhythm activities help students find the beat, learn note values, and meter. A great resource for piano music teachers and homeschooling parents.

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03/14/2024 07:22 pm GMT
Rhythm Games for Perception and Cognition (Revised Edition)
$18.25

Fun music rhythm games and activities following the Dalcroze method with two CD's. A great resource for music teachers and homeschool parents who want to practice finding the beat and learning rhythm through movement.

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02/18/2024 08:20 pm GMT
Feel It!: Rhythm Games for All, Book & 2 CDs
$20.23

A rhythm game activity book with two CD's that follows the Dalcroze method. This is a great resource for music teachers and homeschool parents who want to teach how to find the beat and learn various rhythms through movement.

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02/18/2024 06:40 pm GMT
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3 thoughts on “Reading Music #31: Quarter Rests”

  1. Thank you so much, Teresa Rose, for your very easy to follow lessons! I am in my 50s and just learning to play the clarinet. I have been having difficulty understanding some very basic elements but I no longer feel so foggy.
    Kellie 🙂

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