4th grade nonfiction passage about metronome tempo: 208 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
4th gradenonfictionmetronome tempo208 words
The Ticking Helper on the Piano
Many young players keep a small machine on the piano that goes tick, tick, tick. It is called a metronome. Its only job is to keep a steady beat, like a tiny heart that never gets tired.
Why would anyone need such a thing? Because it is surprisingly hard to play at an even speed. Most beginners speed up when the music is easy and slow down when it gets hard. A metronome does not care. Its ticks stay exactly the same, so a player can hear right away when she is rushing or dragging.
Speed in music is called tempo. Composers often write a number at the top of a page, and that number says how many beats should fit into each minute. A bigger number means faster music. On an older metronome, a swinging rod with a small weight moves back and forth like a pendulum. Sliding the weight higher makes the rod swing slowly. Sliding it lower makes the ticks come faster.
A smart player does not rely on the metronome forever. She uses it to practice a hard part slowly at first. Then she turns the tempo up a little at a time until she can play the whole piece at the right speed.
Questions
What is the job of a metronome? in the text
What do beginners often do when music is easy? in the text
What is the speed of music called? in the text
What does a bigger number at the top of the page mean? think about it
How do you make an older metronome tick slowly? in the text
Why practice a hard part slowly at first? think about it
Words to know
metronome
a tool that ticks at a steady speed
tempo
how fast or slow music is played
beat
the steady pulse in music
pendulum
a weight that swings back and forth
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
The Ticking Helper on the Piano
4th grade reading passage
Many young players keep a small machine on the piano that goes tick, tick, tick. It is called a metronome. Its only job is to keep a steady beat, like a tiny heart that never gets tired.
Why would anyone need such a thing? Because it is surprisingly hard to play at an even speed. Most beginners speed up when the music is easy and slow down when it gets hard. A metronome does not care. Its ticks stay exactly the same, so a player can hear right away when she is rushing or dragging.
Speed in music is called tempo. Composers often write a number at the top of a page, and that number says how many beats should fit into each minute. A bigger number means faster music. On an older metronome, a swinging rod with a small weight moves back and forth like a pendulum. Sliding the weight higher makes the rod swing slowly. Sliding it lower makes the ticks come faster.
A smart player does not rely on the metronome forever. She uses it to practice a hard part slowly at first. Then she turns the tempo up a little at a time until she can play the whole piece at the right speed.
Questions
What is the job of a metronome?
What do beginners often do when music is easy?
What is the speed of music called?
What does a bigger number at the top of the page mean?
How do you make an older metronome tick slowly?
Why practice a hard part slowly at first?
Words to know
metronome: a tool that ticks at a steady speed
tempo: how fast or slow music is played
beat: the steady pulse in music
pendulum: a weight that swings back and forth
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/4/the-ticking-helper-on-the-piano
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One passage, three levels
The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.
● Easier · 169 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.8
Many young players keep a small machine on the piano. It goes tick, tick, tick. It is a metronome. Its job is to keep a steady beat, like a heart that does not get tired.
Why do players need it? It is hard to play at an even speed. Beginners often speed up when the music is easy. They slow down when it is hard. The metronome does not change. Its ticks stay the same. So a player can hear when she rushes or drags.
The speed of music is called tempo. A composer writes a number at the top of the page. It tells how many beats fit in a minute. A bigger number means faster music. An old metronome has a rod with a weight. The rod swings like a pendulum. Slide the weight up and the ticks are slow. Slide it down and they are fast.
A smart player uses it to practice a hard part slowly. Then she speeds up a little at a time.
▲ This passage · 208 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.7
Many young players keep a small machine on the piano that goes tick, tick, tick. It is called a metronome. Its only job is to keep a steady beat, like a tiny heart that never gets tired.
Why would anyone need such a thing? Because it is surprisingly hard to play at an even speed. Most beginners speed up when the music is easy and slow down when it gets hard. A metronome does not care. Its ticks stay exactly the same, so a player can hear right away when she is rushing or dragging.
Speed in music is called tempo. Composers often write a number at the top of a page, and that number says how many beats should fit into each minute. A bigger number means faster music. On an older metronome, a swinging rod with a small weight moves back and forth like a pendulum. Sliding the weight higher makes the rod swing slowly. Sliding it lower makes the ticks come faster.
A smart player does not rely on the metronome forever. She uses it to practice a hard part slowly at first. Then she turns the tempo up a little at a time until she can play the whole piece at the right speed.
■ Harder · 212 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 7.4
Numerous young players keep a small device on the piano that goes tick, tick, tick. It is called a metronome, and its sole purpose is to maintain a steady beat, like a tiny heart that never grows tired.
Why would anyone need such a gadget? The reason is that playing at an even speed is surprisingly difficult. Most beginners hurry when the music is easy and slow down when it becomes challenging. A metronome is indifferent to all this. Its ticks remain exactly the same, so a player can tell immediately whether she is rushing or dragging.
The speed of music is known as tempo. Composers frequently print a number at the top of a page, and that number states how many beats should fit into every minute. A larger number calls for faster music. On an older metronome, a swinging rod with a small weight moves back and forth like a pendulum. Sliding the weight higher makes the rod swing slowly, while sliding it lower makes the ticks arrive faster.
A wise player does not depend on the metronome forever. She uses it to practice a difficult passage slowly at first, then raises the tempo a little at a time until she can perform the whole piece at the proper speed.
Many young players keep a small machine on the piano. It goes tick, tick, tick. It is a metronome. Its job is to keep a steady beat, like a heart that does not get tired.
Why do players need it? It is hard to play at an even speed. Beginners often speed up when the music is easy. They slow down when it is hard. The metronome does not change. Its ticks stay the same. So a player can hear when she rushes or drags.
The speed of music is called tempo. A composer writes a number at the top of the page. It tells how many beats fit in a minute. A bigger number means faster music. An old metronome has a rod with a weight. The rod swings like a pendulum. Slide the weight up and the ticks are slow. Slide it down and they are fast.
A smart player uses it to practice a hard part slowly. Then she speeds up a little at a time.
Questions
What does a metronome do?
What do beginners often do when music is easy?
What is the speed of music called?
What does a bigger number at the top mean?
How do you make an old metronome tick slowly?
Why practice a hard part slowly?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
The Ticking Helper on the Piano
Many young players keep a small machine on the piano that goes tick, tick, tick. It is called a metronome. Its only job is to keep a steady beat, like a tiny heart that never gets tired.
Why would anyone need such a thing? Because it is surprisingly hard to play at an even speed. Most beginners speed up when the music is easy and slow down when it gets hard. A metronome does not care. Its ticks stay exactly the same, so a player can hear right away when she is rushing or dragging.
Speed in music is called tempo. Composers often write a number at the top of a page, and that number says how many beats should fit into each minute. A bigger number means faster music. On an older metronome, a swinging rod with a small weight moves back and forth like a pendulum. Sliding the weight higher makes the rod swing slowly. Sliding it lower makes the ticks come faster.
A smart player does not rely on the metronome forever. She uses it to practice a hard part slowly at first. Then she turns the tempo up a little at a time until she can play the whole piece at the right speed.
Questions
What is the job of a metronome?
What do beginners often do when music is easy?
What is the speed of music called?
What does a bigger number at the top of the page mean?
How do you make an older metronome tick slowly?
Why practice a hard part slowly at first?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
The Ticking Helper on the Piano
Numerous young players keep a small device on the piano that goes tick, tick, tick. It is called a metronome, and its sole purpose is to maintain a steady beat, like a tiny heart that never grows tired.
Why would anyone need such a gadget? The reason is that playing at an even speed is surprisingly difficult. Most beginners hurry when the music is easy and slow down when it becomes challenging. A metronome is indifferent to all this. Its ticks remain exactly the same, so a player can tell immediately whether she is rushing or dragging.
The speed of music is known as tempo. Composers frequently print a number at the top of a page, and that number states how many beats should fit into every minute. A larger number calls for faster music. On an older metronome, a swinging rod with a small weight moves back and forth like a pendulum. Sliding the weight higher makes the rod swing slowly, while sliding it lower makes the ticks arrive faster.
A wise player does not depend on the metronome forever. She uses it to practice a difficult passage slowly at first, then raises the tempo a little at a time until she can perform the whole piece at the proper speed.
Questions
What is the sole purpose of a metronome?
What do beginners often do when the music is easy?
What is the speed of music known as?
What does a larger number at the top of the page call for?
How can you make an older metronome tick slowly?
Why should a player practice a difficult part slowly at first?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: The Ticking Helper on the Piano
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 1.8)
It keeps a steady beat.
They speed up.
Tempo.
The music is played faster.
Slide the weight up the rod.
She can get it right, then speed up a little at a time.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 4.7)
To keep a steady beat.
They speed up.
Tempo.
The music should be played faster.
Slide the weight higher on the rod.
It lets the player get it right, then speed up a little at a time.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 7.4)
To maintain a steady beat.
They hurry or speed up.
Tempo.
Faster music.
Slide the weight higher on the rod.
She can get it right, then raise the tempo a little at a time.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
How to use it
Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.
Ideas for class
Before reading, put metronome, tempo, beat and pendulum on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 2 minutes to read aloud.
Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
Question 4 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.
What reading level is "The Ticking Helper on the Piano"?
It was written for 4th grade. It has 208 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 4.7. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.
What do the questions ask?
There are six. 4 ask for something the text says directly and 2 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.
How long does it take to read?
About 2 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.
Can I print it?
Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.
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