- Definition
A dotted rhythm is when music has a bouncy feel because longer notes are followed by shorter notes, making it sound like "long-short, long-short.
The rhythm in 'Jingle Bells' on the words 'Oh what fun' is a dotted rhythm.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A dotted rhythm is like the sound of a horse galloping — a long beat followed by a quick one.
Ask your child: Can you tap out a 'galloping' rhythm on the table?
Common mix-up: Kids may think the dot just makes one note longer. The key is the bouncy, uneven feel created when that long note is followed by a short one.
Examples
- The opening of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' ('Oh say can you see') uses a dotted rhythm.
- The song 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee' uses this rhythm on its first line.
dotted rhythm is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
