Below are the rhythms and notes you will be expected to be able to read and play in the sight-reading part of your grade 2 exam. If you are not planning on taking a grade exam, this page will still be really useful for your playing and reading skills.
ONE beat long note
TWO beat long note
THREE beat long note
FOUR beat long note
HALF a beat each
ONE and a HALF beat long note
ONE beat long rest
TWO beat long rest
FOUR beat long rest
Clap along to the rhythms in these videos.
You might notice that the video uses the Ta and Ti-ti system to name the notes. You might be used to using this with your teacher (except for here minims are called To-e). It's the official names of those notes, but it can be a helpful way to read the rhythms right.
Don't try these until you have learned about how to read in 6/8 time with your teacher.
In this section we are going to concentrate on reading the notes in the upper range of the clarinet. If you struggle to read the lower notes on the clarinet, look at the grade 1 music reading page and work your way through the exercises there first.
Here are the key signatures you are expected to know and understand at grade 2.
Try playing these bars of music and LOOK OUT FOR THE KEY SIGNATURES!
Here are the other parts of music reading you should know about at grade 2.
Soft
Medium Soft
Medium Loud
Loud
Getting Louder
Getting Quieter
Short and detached
Joined together - only the first note tongued
An emphasis on the beginning of each note
Hold the note for its full length
Hold the note for longer than its written duration
Lento - Slowly
Andante - Walking Tempo
Moderato - Moderate speed (not fast, not slow)
Allegro - Fast
Rallentando - Gradually slow down
Accelerando - Gradually speed up
Check the key signature
Check the time signature
Decide what speed your beat is
Look for dynamics and articulations
Practice the hardest bits first
Find some pieces in your books that you haven't played yet and trying playing all or part of one. Think about the rhythms, the notes and all the extras like dynamics and articulation.