A Dot Adds Half Again

Music · Page 1 of 6

Name Date
DIRECTIONS: Read the table, then clap the bar below while somebody counts 1–2–3–4.
A dot adds half of its own note. It does not double it.
The noteWhat it is calledThe dot addsSo it is worth
half note—½
dotted halfhalf of ½, which is ¼½ + ¼ = ¾
quarter note—¼
dotted quarterhalf of ¼, which is ⅛¼ + ⅛ = ⅜
44¾¼
Dotted half: clap on 1, hold through 2 and 3, clap on 4. ¾ + ¼ = 1.

Add Them Up

Music · Page 2 of 6

DIRECTIONS: Write each note’s fraction (a dotted half is ¾), then add. Each comes to 1.
  1.   ______ + ______  =  ______
  2.   ______ + ______ + ______  =  ______
  3.   ______ + ______ + ______ + ______  =  ______

Add Them Up

Music · Page 3 of 6

DIRECTIONS: Three more.
  1.   ______ + ______ + ______ + ______  =  ______
  2.   ______ + ______ + ______  =  ______
  3.   ______ + ______ + ______  =  ______
Then clap all six. No long-short lilt? The dot is not being held.

Written With the Wrong Rule

Music · Page 4 of 6

DIRECTIONS: Each bar was written with a wrong rule about the dot. What does it really add up to?
  1. really adds up to ______  ·  that is ______ too ______
  2. really adds up to ______  ·  that is ______ too ______
  3. really adds up to ______  ·  that is ______ too ______
  4. really adds up to ______  ·  that is ______ too ______
The wrong rules: the dot doubles the note · the dot is decoration · the dot always adds the same amount.

What Is Missing

Music · Page 5 of 6

DIRECTIONS: Each bar is missing one note. Draw it in the gap. Most need a dot.
  1. what is there: ______  ·  so the missing note is ______
  2. what is there: ______  ·  so the missing note is ______
  3. what is there: ______  ·  so the missing note is ______
  4. what is there: ______  ·  so the missing note is ______
  5. what is there: ______  ·  so the missing note is ______
No plain note is ¾ long. The dot is how music writes the in-between sizes.

One Dot Fixes It

Music · Page 6 of 6

DIRECTIONS: Each bar is too short. Add one dot to the right note so it comes to 1.
How much is missing? Half of which note is that much?
  1. the bar adds up to ______  ·  the dot goes on the ______ note
  2. the bar adds up to ______  ·  the dot goes on the ______ note
  3. the bar adds up to ______  ·  the dot goes on the ______ note