NAME: DAY/CLASS:

Music Theory
Packet 1
Mrs. Morris & Tr. Murdter
Beat, Rhythm, and Other Musical Words
The beat of music is its steady pulse, like a ticking clock or your
heartbeat.
A measure is a unit of time that contains a specific number of
beats, which is shown by the time signature. Measures are
separated by bar lines.

A time signature is a set of two numbers; the top number shows

how many beats are in the measure, and the bottom number
shows what type of note is one beat.

=
4 = 3=
=

2 =
= = 6= =2=
A note is a symbol used to represent a musical sound with a
specific length of time. Notes are given different names based on
how much time they take up in one measure of 4/4.
For every note length, there is an equivalent rest, which is a
symbol used to represent silence for a specific length of time.
Rhythm refers to the placement of sounds in time, or the
arrangement of notes and rests in music.
Fraction of
Note Number of
Symbol a 4/4 Visual
Name Beats
Measure

2
 Whole
1 4
Note

Half Note 1/2 2

Quarter
1/4 1
Note

Eighth
1/8 1/2
Note

Sixteenth
1/16 1/4
Note

Fraction of
Rest Number
Symbol a 4/4 Visual
Name of Beats
Measure

Whole
1 4
Rest

Half Rest 1/2 2

Quarter
1/4 1
Rest

Eighth
1/8 1/2
Rest

Sixteenth
1/16 1/4
Rest

Counting Beat vs. Counting Rhythm

The beat stays the same across multiple measures, while the
different notes and rests indicate different rhythms.
Note Values in 4/4: Above the line, label rhythms as you would
count them. Below the line, number each beat.
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Rhythms: Above the line, label rhythms as you would count
them. Below the line, number each beat.
1.

2.

4
3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

5
8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

6
 14.

15.

Writing: Practice drawing each kind of note and rest. Then, add
bar lines in the appropriate places.
1. Whole Notes

2. Half Notes

3. Quarter Notes

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4. Eighth Notes

5. Sixteenth Notes

6. Whole Rests

7. Half Rests

8. Quarter rests

8
 9. Eighth Rests

10. Sixteenth Rests

The Musical Staff

A staff consists of five horizontal lines and four spaces.

Notes can be written on the line or in the spaces; when a note is

written on the line, the line passes through the center of the note
and when a note is written in a space, the note fills the entire
space.

Lines and spaces of the staff are counted bottom to top.

Stem Direction

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If a note is on the 3rd line (middle line) or above, the stem goes
below the note.

Dotted Notes and Rests

A dot adds half of a note’s value to that note.

Original Number Half the Number Add Dotted

Note of Beats of Beats together Note Value
4 2 4+2 6 Beats

2 1 2+1 3 Beats

1 1/2 1 + 1/2 1 ½ Beats

1/2 1/4 1/2 + 1/4 ¾ Beat

1/4 1/8 1/4 + 1/8 ⅜ Beat

= . .
4 + 2
2 + 1 = 3
= 6
10
 = . = .
1 + ½ = 1½ ½ + ¼ = ¾

Practice: Whole Notes

Circle all the whole notes in the staff below.

Draw a whole note on the line or in the space shown below.

In the 1st On the 3rd In the 2nd On the 5th In the 4th
space line space line space

On which line or in which space have these whole notes been

placed?

Draw five whole notes in the staff and identify which line or space
you have put them on.

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Practice: Half Notes
Circle the half notes in the staff below.

Draw a half note on the line or in the space below. Make sure the
stems go in the correct direction.

In the 1st On the 4th In the 3rd On the 2nd On the 5th
space line space line line

On which line or in which space have these half notes been

placed?

Draw five half notes and identify the line or space you put them
on. Make sure the stems go in the correct direction.

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Practice: Quarter Notes
Draw a quarter note on/in the given line or space; Make sure the
stems go in the correct direction.

In the 1st On the 2nd On the 3rd In the 4th On the 5th
space line line space line

On which line or in which space have these quarter notes been

placed?

Are there more quarter notes or half notes on this staff?

Draw five quarter notes and identify the line or space you put
them on. Make sure the stems go in the correct direction.

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Practice: Eighth Notes
Draw an eighth note on the line or in the space below. Make sure
the stems go in the correct direction.

In the 4th On the 3rd On the 1st On the 2nd In the 3rd
space line line line space

On which line or in which space have these eighth notes been

placed?

Draw five eighth notes and identify the line or space you put them
on. Make sure the stems go in the correct direction.

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Practice: Rests
Circle all the whole rests on this staff.

Circle all the half rests on this staff.

Circle all the quarter rests on this staff.

Circle all the eighth rests on this staff.

Circle all the sixteenth rests on this staff.

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