Songs for Two, Three, and Four Pulse Comparison

Mrs. Curwen never asked a child to do something that they had never heard before. Music is first a thing of hearing and second a thing of seeing.

Her entire method is built upon listening first.

Early in Mrs. Curwen’s preliminary courses, the teacher plays piece after piece of music with two pulse, three pulse, and four pulse measure. This gives the opportunity for  the student to feel and hear the accented pulse and the following weak pulses.

Here is a compilation of pieces for you and your children to use. Listen for the accented pulse. How many weak pulses follow? The pieces are labeled as a two pulse, three, pulse, or four pulse measures.

Can you listen together and hear the differences?

The recording below is ‘Six Ecossaises’ WoO 83 by Beethoven from the book Encore! by Jane Magrath. (TWO PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Study No. 3 by Mozart from the book Western Ontario Conservatory of Music published by Waterloo Music Company. Pianoforte Grade 2. (TWO PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Country Dance by Beethoven (arranged by Allan Small.) This is from the book Teacher’s Choice by Allan Small. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Three Ecossaises by Carl Maria von Weber. This is from the book The Classical Period edited by Denes Agay. (TWO PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is an excerpt from Menuetto con Variazioni by Joseph Haydn. This is from the book The Classical Period edited by Denes Agay. (THREE PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Sonatina II by Theodore Latour from the book Sonatinas; The First Book for Young Pianists edited by Margery Halford. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Radetsky March by J Strauss (arranged by Allan Small.) This is from the book Teacher’s Choice by Allan Small. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Sonatina by Felix Le Couppey from the book Select Sonatinas for Piano Solo edited by Leo Podolsky. Volume 3. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Two Minuets by Mozart from the book The Classical Period. It’s a repertory of works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and their contemporaries. It’s published by Denes Agay. (THREE PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is On the March by Harris from the book Western Ontario Conservatory of Music published by Waterloo Music Company. Pianoforte Grade 2. (TWO PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Two German Dances 2 by Joseph Haydn from the book The Classical Period. It’s a repertory of works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and their contemporaries. It’s published by Denes Agay. (THREE PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Two German Dances 1 by Joseph Haydn from the book The Classical Period. It’s a repertory of works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and their contemporaries. It’s published by Denes Agay. (THREE PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is an excerpt from Waltz by Carl Maria von Weber from the book The Classical Period. (THREE PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is The Vicar of Bray from Mrs. Curwen’s Illustrative Tunes. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Polly Oliver from Mrs. Curwen’s Illustrative Tunes. (THREE PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Noel from Mrs. Curwen’s Illustrative Tunes. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Our Country Tis of Thee (God Save the King) from Mrs. Curwen’s Illustrative Tunes. (THREE PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is The Harp That Once from Mrs. Curwen’s Illustrative Tunes. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Once I Loved a Maiden Fair from Mrs. Curwen’s Illustrative Tunes. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is March from Mrs. Curwen’s Illustrative Tunes. (FOUR PULSE MEASURE.)

The recording below is Minuet from Mrs. Curwen’s Illustrative Tunes. (THREE PULSE MEASURE.)