Reading Rhythms Part 1

One of the things that is daunting about reading music is the language of rhythm.  And this is understandable!  Rhythm is difficult to learn because time is an abstract concept.

BUT we are already used to it!

One hour is a space of time that even the youngest people can relate to.  We understand that we have to move through it, and that it is constant (even though sometimes it doesn't feel so!)

An hour is a space of time.
a "beat" or a "count" is a space of time.

We are also used to stringing spaces of time together:

 Exercise one in practicing musical time is to clap through these "circles of time," choosing a constant space of time for each circle.  (A metronome is very helpful and free ones can be downloaded on most devices!)
I use a "clap-slide" method which later translates into held notes:
example, 4 beats would look like this:  "clap-slide-slide-slide"