Meter in 3

At the end of the third grade rhythm unit, we learn that beats are usually grouped in 3's or 4's. We sing songs in both 3 and 4, listen and find the strong beats, and "ta" rhythms in both meters.

It can be difficult teaching students how to hear the difference between meter in 3 and meter in 4. I have found it to be easier for students to hear the difference between 3 and 4 than between 2 and 3 (or duple and triple).

Here are some songs in 3 I use.

Ya Ya We

Macoway

America

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Austrian Went Yodeling

For this assessment, I have found that students have a hard time filling in the bottom boxes with names of songs. I have begun to put a list of well-known songs on the board that they can choose from. We discuss these and figure out their meter on days before the assessment.