This lesson will build on skills we learned from lesson four. We will start mixing up the rhythm using half notes and quarter notes. If you are unsure about what these are review lesson three.

Our first exercise only uses half notes and half rests.





As you listen to it, clap the rhythm. To help get the feel for half notes, hold your hands together for two counts when you clap a half note.

When you feel confident you understand the rhythm move on in the lesson.

Before we try to play this with the headjoint we need to review tonguing and breathing. You will be playing three half notes in a row. If you add this up, in 4/4 time it comes to six counts. It will not sound good if you try to breath between your notes here, so this is where tonguing comes in. You will blow for six counts and use your tongue to create the second and third notes in each group of three half notes.

If need be, you can use the breathing exercise we learned in lesson one to get a feel for this, blowing into the palm of your hand while using your tongue to create the half notes. Think of saying too - too - too, giving two counts to each "too."

Now you're ready to try it with your headjoint using the same accompaniment we used in lesson three.

The next exercise will give your tongue a little more to think about as it only uses quarter notes and rests.





Work on this example the same way you did with the previous exercise, first clapping (since these are quarter notes don't worry about holding your hands together for the count like you did with the half notes), then blowing and tonguing.

When you're ready, try it out with the accompaniment.

The last exercise mixes it all up.

and again with the accompaniment:





When you have mastered these exercises you will be ready for lesson 6.