Temporal processing
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Being able to perform music with rhythmical accuracy involves being able to reproduce rhythmic patterns in not only the correct sequence, but according to a pre-determined tempo.  The rhythmical material may be copied from a heard model, from some kind of 2-dimensional notation, or internally generated.  Output may be vocal or kinaesthetic - ie on some kind of instrument.  A secondary skill for musicians is the ability to notate a heard rhythmic sequence, a skill that involves not only the ability to memorize the pattern, but to subject it to conscious sequential analysis in order to transcribe it into a different dimensional domain.

The following tables illustrate the various ways in which rhythmical information can be processed:

This table shows some common rhythmic units, and methods of notation for use with children:

RHYTHMIC PATTERNS
Words	Snake,	Monkey	Alligator
Non-word syllables	Ta,	Titi	Taka tiki
Sound
Icons
Symbols
Musical notation

And the following four tables show a series of rhythmic sequences that might be used in training children both rhythmical and metrical accuracy and in notational skills:

RHYTHMIC SEQUENCE
Words	Snake, Snake, Monkey, Snake,
Non-word syllables	Ta, Ta, Titi, Ta
Sound
Icons
Symbols
Musical notation

RHYTHMIC SEQUENCE
Words	Snake, Monkey, Monkey, Snake,
Non-word syllables	Ta, Titi, Titi, Ta
Sound
Icons
Symbols
Musical notation

RHYTHMIC SEQUENCE
Words	Snake, Alligator, Monkey, Snake
Non-word syllables	Ta, Taka tiki, Titi, Ta
Sound
Icons
Symbols
Musical notation

RHYTHMIC SEQUENCES
Words	Alligator, Monkey, Monkey, Snake,
Non-word syllables	Taka tiki, Titi, Titi, Ta
Sound
Icons
Symbols
Musical notation