Resource: Finding the Common Beat
Media Type:
QuickTime Video
Length: 4m 06s
Size: 11.4 MB
In this video segment from Cyberchase, The CyberSquad is trying to figure out the patterns followed by each of four musicians who play a song together. They start by charting the pattern of each instrument, and in doing so they use their knowledge of factors. After testing a few possibilities, they are able to successfully find the pattern that represents the song. Watch "Performance by Music of the Spheres" to hear the whole song performed by the musicians.
Alternate Media Available:
Transcript (Rich Text Format Document)
Supplemental Media Available:
Performance by Music of the Spheres (QuickTime Video)
Teachers' Domain, Finding the Common Beat, published October 8, 2008, retrieved on ,
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/vtl07.math.number.mul.commonbeat/
- Frame and Focus
- Follow Up
- Connections
- Standards
Here are some Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions for using this video in a math lesson.
What is Frame, Focus and Follow-up?
Frame: Sometimes when we hear music we clap our hands or tap our feet. When we do this, what are we keeping track of? If one person hits the drum every two seconds, while another person blows into a trumpet every three seconds, and another person strums a guitar every six seconds, at what point will all the musicians being playing a note at the same time? How do bands manage to play together so that all the different instruments are coordinated?
Focus: As you watch this video segment, notice how the CyberSquad keeps track of the beats in the different musicians' playing patterns. What does the CyberSquad discover to be the key to getting everyone to play the song correctly?
Source: Cyberchase: “Out of Sync”
Resource Produced by:
Collection Developed by:
Collection Funded by:
Funding for the VITAL/Ready to Teach collection was secured through the United States Department of Education under the Ready to Teach Program.




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