Rhythm cards: ta and ti-ti

Ta and ti-ti are rhythm names. A child says "ta" for a quarter note and "ti-ti" for a pair of eighth notes. These cards put one rhythm on each card, with its name underneath. Lay four beats in a row, say the names, and clap.

How to use them

Print page one on card stock and cut along the dashed lines. That gives twelve ta cards, eight ti-ti cards, and four rests. Lay four cards in a row. Point to each card in turn at a steady speed while your child says and claps the line. For a rest, open both hands and make no sound. Then swap two cards and clap the new line.

Page two adds longer and quicker sounds. A card that lasts two beats is two cards wide, so a row of four beats stays the same length. Add one new card at a time. Teachers differ in the names they use, so follow your child's teacher where the names differ.

Games

Take turns. One person lays a row and the other claps it. Or clap a row and ask your child to build it from the cards. Keep the beat steady with the metronome for kids, set to a slow speed.