The Eight Most Common Rhythm Figures

I find it fascinating that in my opinion there are only eight basic rhythmic figures in common time.

1.  quarter - quarter - quarter - quarter
2.  quarter - quarter - half--------------
3.  half ----------------quarter - quarter
4.  quarter - half---------------- quarter
5.  half----------------- half-------------
6.  dotted half-------------------quarter
7.  quarter - dotted half----------------
8.  whole--------------------------------

Once a student has been able to feel these rhythm proportions as well as read, write and play them, they can make the next step to see that the same combinations can be found when the common denominator is eight notes or sixteenth notes.

The trick for the teacher is to get them to tap the beat while clapping the rhythm.  One option is to have half the class tap the beat while the other taps the rhythm and then change parts.  When they really get the hang of it, the can count the beat while strumming the rhythm on the guitar.  There are lots of creative variation that you may be able to think of.

The main point is to make rhythm reading as simple as possible and to learn as quickly as possible.
By teaching these eight proportions, my students seem to grasp the idea of "reading figures at sight"
more quickly than other methods I have tried.

The final step is to teach ties and rests.  Nonetheless, the eight rhythm figures are still the foundation  of music in common time.