Lesson 01

Sound and Silence

Music is not made of sound alone. Silence can be part of the phrase too. When the sound stops, musical time does not disappear: we keep counting, wait, a...

  • Lesson 01
  • Stage: Foundations
  • Learning status: Start here

Lesson goal

Is music only sound?

  • Distinguish between sound and silence.
  • Understand that a rest is measured silence inside music.
  • Keep counting even when there is no sound.
  • Notice that silence has a place in the beat.
  • Prepare for reading written note and rest symbols.

Explanation

Music is not made of sound alone. Silence can be part of the phrase too. When the sound stops, musical time does not disappear: we keep counting, wait, a...

Read the idea calmly, connect it to the count or symbol shown, then move to the example before trying the review questions.

Key terms

Sound

A musical event that we hear and count in time.

Silence

A moment with no sound, but time continues.

Rest

Measured silence written inside music.

Beat

A steady unit we use to count music.

Interactive example

Listen to four beats from left to right: sound, sound, silence, sound. Notice that beat 3 is silent, but it is still counted.

1Ta2Ta3Silence4Ta

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Exercise

Listen to a new four-beat pattern, then choose the beat where silence happened.

1234

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Level check

Question 1

What does a rest mean?

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Question 2

What happens to the count during silence?

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Question 3

In sound — sound — silence — sound, where is the silence?

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Question 4

Which pair is correct?

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Question 5

What is the first skill in this lesson?

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