Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

Notice:

• There are twomain beats (pulses) in each measure (the top number, 6, when divided by 3 will equal 2).


• The main pulse is the dotted quarter note ( = = 1).

“Mirrors” (R.L. Finney)
Meter: Compound duple

TRACK 67

Listen to “Mirrors” by Ross Lee Finney. To establish the tempo, two measures will be given before the

piece begins: count “1—2—1—2”. Continue to count out loud as you listen to the piece. Can you feel the

underlying division of the main beats into three smaller units?

In 6/8 there are six eighth notes in a measure, with the grouping of the eighths into two groups of three,
resulting in two dotted quarter notes. Therefore, the meter of 6/8 is compound duple. Likewise, 9/8 is compound
triplemeter (9 divided by 3). It consists of three main beats, each a dotted quarter note which can be divided
into three eighth notes. The same applies to compound quadruplemeter, with four beats.

Exercise 1—Class Exercise

Utilizing the main beat, count and clap the rhythms below.
Method 1: Counting compound meter—utilizing the main beat

Compound

duple

Compound

triple

Compound

quadruple

4 Main beats

Division of beats

3 Main beats

Division of beats

2 Main beats

Division of beats

MODULE 8

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