Mark the First Beat in Each Group

Supplied materials

• Paper and a pencil, or typed notes. Draw grouped pulse marks and mark the requested accents.
• Example: Two groups of 2 equal pulses should accent the first pulse in each group. Which accent map fits? Choices: (A) beats 1 and 3 (B) beats 2 and 4 (C) every pulse except 1 (D) only beat 4.
• Try this: Two groups of 3 equal pulses should accent the first pulse in each group. Which accent map fits? Choices: (A) beats 1 and 4 (B) beats 3 and 6 (C) every pulse except 1 (D) only beat 6.

Learn the idea

An accent is an emphasis. When the plan asks for an accent on each group’s first pulse, mark those group starts. Keep every pulse and keep the spaces equal.

Look at the example. The first group starts at beat 1. After 2 pulses, the second starts at 3. Accenting those starts marks grouping while all pulses remain equally spaced.

An accented pulse is still part of its group. Keep the other pulses in the plan too.

1. Read the example with two groups of two pulses. Find the first pulse of each group.
2. Compare beats 1 and 3 with beats 2 and 4. Explain which pair marks the group starts.
3. Try the check question and the three practice questions. Then read the feedback.
4. Draw two groups of three pulses and accent only each group’s first position.
5. Check your work. All six pulses remain present and positions one and four receive the specified accents.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

Try a new example: Two groups of 9 equal pulses should accent the first pulse in each group. Which accent map fits? Choices: (A) beats 1 and 10 (B) beats 9 and 18 (C) every pulse except 1 (D) only beat 18. Answer: beats 1 and 10. The first group starts at beat 1. After 9 pulses, the second starts at 10. Accenting those starts marks grouping while all pulses remain equally spaced. Make your own: Draw two groups of three pulses and accent only each group’s first position. Check your work: All six pulses remain present and positions one and four receive the specified accents.

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.