I recently discovered The Rhythm Randomizer. This online app is excellent for generating rhythm performance questions using any Violin Club board game (scroll down to explore the freee games!) or just as general sightreading practice. You set your parameters in the settings, and true to its name, The Rhythm Randomizer randomly generates a rhythm pattern to your specifications. It will also playback the generated rhythms, which inspired me to create a game to help my students improve their rhythmic dictation skills.
This game uses the rhythms I teach my students first: quarter, two-eighths, half, dotted half, and whole notes. Download the free PDF below. For best results print on card stock, or cut apart the cards and laminate them for durability. Then use this link (bookmark for reference) to generate rhythms with these note patterns. When you’re ready to begin the game, click New Rhythm and then Start Playback. Have students arrange the cards to replicate the rhythms they hear.
You can make the game more challenging by printing two sets of cards and increasing the number of measures to two in the settings. If it helps your students, you can toggle the metronome to play during playback or adjust the tempo in the settings as well. You can generate a link to save your settings to save for future gameplay.
I am loving the possibilities of The Rhythm Randomizer! How else would you use it in your studio? Let me know in the comments or on social media.
Here’s the current archive of Violin Club game boards you can use with any question set! I’ve used Rhythm Randomizer and had my students clap, pluck, shadow bow, or play a rhythm arco to be able to roll and move on the board. Click on the image to download the game and instructions.