This Music video introduces teachers to rhythm and explains how children learn to recognise different note values and rests. It explores how the shape of a note shows its duration and how different note values and rests combine to create rhythmic patterns.

The video explains how children develop their understanding of rhythm throughout Key Stage 2, beginning with crotchets, paired quavers, crotchet rests and minims before progressing to individual quavers and quaver rests in upper Key Stage 2. It also introduces semibreves and explains how notes and rests are used to represent different lengths of sound and silence while maintaining a steady beat.

Understanding note values and rests helps children read, perform and create rhythms accurately. As their confidence grows, they begin to recognise note shapes automatically and understand how long each sound or rest should last.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s Music videos, which support teachers in developing confidence and subject knowledge when helping children explore rhythm and musical notation.

See more of our Music scheme of work.

• Music, Year 3, Reading rhythms: Patterns and layers.