- Definition
Metre is how beats in music are grouped together, like how you might count "one-two, one-two" or "one-two-three, one-two-three" while listening to a song. It helps give music its rhythm and feel.
A simple march has a metre that feels like strong-weak, strong-weak, which makes you want to count 1-2, 1-2.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Metre is like the steady beat you march to, where one beat feels stronger than the others.
Ask your child: Can you clap a strong beat then a weak beat?
Common mix-up: Kids might think metre is just how fast or slow a song is. Metre is actually the repeating pattern of strong and weak beats, like a musical heartbeat.
Examples
- The song 'Happy Birthday' has a metre that makes you feel a 1-2-3 pulse.
- Many pop songs have a metre where you can easily clap along to a 1-2-3-4 count.
metre 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 ↗
