Count Held Sounds and Quiet Beats

Supplied materials

• Paper and a pencil, or typed notes. Draw beat positions for held sounds and rests.
• Example: A 3-beat phrase begins with a sound held for 1 beat, then a 1-beat rest. How many beats remain? Choices: (A) 0 beats (B) 1 beat (C) 2 beats (D) 3 beats.
• Try this: A 4-beat phrase begins with a sound held 2 beats, then a 1-beat rest. How many beats remain? Choices: (A) 0 beats (B) 1 beat (C) 2 beats (D) 3 beats.

Learn the idea

A sound can start once and keep going for several beats. A rest also takes time. Add the sound’s hold time and the rest time before finding how many beats remain.

Look at the example. The held sound starts once and lasts 1 pulse; the rest takes one more pulse. Subtract occupied time: 3−1−1=1. Silence is part of the phrase, not missing time.

A quiet beat still counts. Count how long a sound lasts as well as how many times it starts.

1. Look at the three-beat example. Find the time used by the held sound and the rest.
2. Subtract the held beat and quiet beat from three. Explain why one beat remains.
3. Try the check question and the three practice questions. Then read the feedback.
4. Make a six-beat phrase with a two-beat hold, a one-beat rest and three remaining one-beat positions.
5. Check your work. All six positions are accounted for, including the held duration and silent position.

Check your reasoning

Your answer is temporary and is not saved to an account. Download your current answer before leaving or reloading. Written work on paper or in another app stays in your own file.

Take it further

Try a new example: A 10-beat phrase begins with a sound held 2 beats, then a 1-beat rest. How many beats remain? Choices: (A) 6 beats (B) 7 beats (C) 8 beats (D) 9 beats. Answer: 7 beats. The held sound occupies 2 pulses even though it has one onset; the rest occupies one more. Subtract occupied time: 10−2−1=7. Silence is part of the phrase, not missing time. Make your own: Make a six-beat phrase with a two-beat hold, a one-beat rest and three remaining one-beat positions. Check your work: All six positions are accounted for, including the held duration and silent position.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.