Music theory worksheet · Note values
Meet the Notes
Trace the name of each note, then clap and count its beats out loud.
- Grade level
- Grades K–1
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Topic
- Note values
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Naming whole, half, quarter and eighth notes, Knowing how many beats each note gets, Adding note values, Seeing how notes divide in half
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Trace the name. Clap once and count the beats out loud.
- 4 beats: clap and count 1, 2, 3, 4
- 2 beats: clap and count 1, 2 quarter note eighth notes
- 1 beat: clap and say 1
- Now draw each note yourself.
- Two eighth notes fit in 1 beat quarter note eighth notes
Teacher tip
Trace each note with a finger while holding its sound on “ta”: four beats for the whole note, two for the half note and one for the quarter note.
How to use it
- Point out the three clues: is the head filled in, is there a stem, is there a flag or a beam?
- Keep a note value chart on the wall while kids work.
- End by clapping, singing or playing something from the sheet, so the page turns back into music.
Watch for
Thinking a bigger-looking note is always longer. The whole note has no stem at all.
Talk about it
- What changes in how a note looks as it gets shorter?
- What does this symbol tell a musician to do?
Take it further
Have kids write a note addition problem for a partner.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More note values worksheets
Grades 2–3
The Note Value Tree
Each row of the tree lasts four beats. Count the notes in every row, then finish the sentences.
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