Eighth notes split each beat in two. The first falls on the click and the second halfway to the next click, on the "and".
Keep both halves equal. A common mistake is to swing them, making the first longer, without meaning to.
| Figure | Count | Kodály syllables |
|---|---|---|
| Two eighths | 1 & | ti-ti |
| Eighth rest + eighth | (1) & | sh-ti |
A single eighth note has a filled-in head, a stem and one flag. When several follow each other, the flags are replaced by a beam that joins the stems, usually in groups that make up one beat. Two eighth notes last as long as one quarter note. The eighth rest looks like a small slanted 7.
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" at an even speed. The numbers fall on the click and each "and" falls exactly halfway between two clicks. Say it with the click before you clap anything. Then clap every syllable. Then clap only the written rhythm while you keep saying all the syllables.
Saying the full count while clapping only part of it is the most useful habit in rhythm reading. Every later lesson builds on it.
Uneven eighths are the main one: the note on the beat becomes long and the "and" becomes short, as in swing. Swing is a real style, but it is not what is written here, and the feedback will show your off-beat claps arriving late. The other slip is rushing through a group of eighths and landing early on the next quarter note. Lowering the tempo by about 10 BPM usually fixes both.