Reading rhythm is a as simple as looking at sticks.

The rhythm of a song

is determined by the stems of the notes. Each type of stem has both a
real name and a nick-name. We use the nick-name to help us recite the
rhythm pattern. The basic elements of rhythm are:
Figure

Nick-Name
Tah
Tee-Tee
Ti-ri-ti-ri

Real Name
Quarter Note
Eighth Notes
Sixteenth Notes

In addition to the rhythms above, there are two examples that use the
note head to determine the rhythm. These are:
Figure

Nick-Name

Real Name

Tah-ah

Half Note

Tum

Whole Note

Now that you know the basic elements of rhythm, we can combine them
to make patterns. Some of the most common rhythm patterns are:
Rhythm Pattern

Pronunciation
Tah Tah Tah Tah
Tee-tee Tee-tee Tee-tee Tee-tee
Ti-ri-ti-ri Ti-ri-ti-ri Ti-ri-ti-ri Tiri-ti-ri

Tah Tah Tee-tee Tee-tee

Tee-tee Tee-tee Ti-ri-ti-ri Tah
Tah Tah Tee-tee Tah
Ti-ri-ti-ri Ti-ri-ti-ri Tah-ah
Tah Tah Ti-ri-ti-ri Tah
Tah-ah Tee-tee Tah
Ti-ri-ti-ri Ti-ri-ti-ri Tah-ah
Tee-tee Tee-tee Ti-ri-ti-ri Tah

All rhythm elements relates to each other. Here is a chart which show
how each rhythm element is apart of another.

Original copied from:

http://www.gcschools.net/0405contest/692900/rhythmmaster.htm