Study guide: Divide Beats, Change Tempo, and Show a Scene
Fit short sounds into a beat, compare fast and slow beat plans, map loudness, and draw a still scene.
Ideas to explain in your own words
- One beat can hold two equal short sounds. Each short sound takes half of that beat. The two halves still use one whole beat, and the other beats keep their places. Count the beat boxes as well as the sounds. Two sounds inside one box can still make just one beat.
- Tempo means how fast the beat moves. If two plans have the same number of equal beats, the plan that takes less time has the faster tempo. Use the number of beats and the time for each plan. A louder sound does not tell you that the beat is faster.
- Dynamics tell how loud or soft a sound is. Write loudness labels in order to show a change. The beat marks can keep equal spaces while the sound gets louder or softer. Written loudness labels are enough for this plan. If you choose to make sounds, keep them comfortable and quiet.
- A tableau is a still scene picture. A figure’s direction, hand gesture, or nearby object can help show what is happening. You can draw the whole scene on paper. People may understand a picture in different ways. Explain how the figure or object helps show your idea.
Useful vocabulary
- rhythm
- The pattern of sound and silence durations.
- tempo
- The rate of the pulse.
- dynamics
- Planned loudness and changes in loudness.
- tableau
- A held scene image showing an action or relation.
Watch your reasoning
- Count the beat boxes as well as the sounds. Two sounds inside one box can still make just one beat.
- Use the number of beats and the time for each plan. A louder sound does not tell you that the beat is faster.
- Written loudness labels are enough for this plan. If you choose to make sounds, keep them comfortable and quiet.
A worked review example
Fit Two Sounds Inside One Beat: In a 4-beat plan, beat 1 must contain two equal short sounds; each other beat has one longer sound. Which plan preserves all 4 beats? Choices: (A) Add an extra beat 5 for the second sound (B) Make every gap a different length (C) Remove beat 1 completely (D) Split beat 1 into two halves; leave the other 3 beats whole. Why: Two halves sum to one whole beat, so dividing only beat 1 changes its sound rhythm without changing the 4-beat pulse. Adding or removing a beat would change the phrase length. Compare Beat Spacing: Four equal-duration beat cells occupy the entire stated time in each plan: A occupies 8 seconds and B 4 seconds. Each cell is one beat duration, rather than a gap between two onsets. Which plan has faster beat spacing? Choices: (A) A: each beat lasts 2 seconds (B) B: each beat lasts 1 second (C) The louder pattern must be faster (D) The tempi are equal. Why: The four cells fill each whole time span, so one beat cell lasts 8/4=2 seconds in A and 4/4=1 second in B. B has a shorter interval and therefore a faster tempo. Nothing about loudness was supplied. Map Loudness Without Changing Speed: A 3-part sound plan must grow louder, retaining equal pulse spacing. Which complete loudness map fits? Choices: (A) loud → loud → loud (B) loud → medium → soft (C) soft → medium → loud (D) soft → soft → soft. Why: The map soft → medium → loud follows the required 3 positions and the instruction to grow louder. Pulse spacing remains a separate timing condition. Increasing loudness does not imply speeding up, and changing dynamics does not remove any scheduled pulse. Show a Story in a Still Picture: A silent frozen-picture plan should show waiting for rain. Which choice helps show that idea? Choices: (A) A blank page with no figure or object (B) A figure facing away from every relevant object (C) A written claim that all viewers must feel identical emotions (D) look upward; hands cupped. Why: In this plan, the figure looks upward and cups its hands. The direction or gesture helps show the story idea. You can draw the scene or use a comfortable seated pose.
Make a practice plan
- Look closely at each sound plan, drawing, or timeline before answering.
- Try each check question. Explain the marks, order, or calculation that supports your answer.
- Make each requested drawing or written plan. Check it and keep one clear improvement.
- Try the unit review and test. You can complete the tasks with drawings and writing.