Sight Reading Factory Adds Rhythm Only Assessment
Sight Reading Factory is one of my all-time favorite online tools for music educators. and has been a reliable platform for helping students build sight-reading skills across different levels for over ten years now. They just announced their latest update recently, and it’s a BIG one: Rhythm-Only Auto Assessment. Sight Reading Factory (SRF) now provides a focused way for students to work specifically on rhythm without the added layer of pitch. For teachers who want to target rhythmic development, this tool offers some useful options. To access this new feature, just click on Rhythm-only from the main menu (after you click Start Practicing). You’ll then go through selecting the same types of parameters as you would for other SRF exercises, including difficulty level and time signature. Below is an example that I created using difficulty level 3 and a 4/4 time signature:
If you select the Auto Assessment option, you’ll be able to select how you would like to enter your responses - either tapping the screen (if you’re using a mobile device) or hitting the space bar, V or B keys (if you’re using laptop or Chromebook).
The Rhythm-Only Auto Assessment gives students rhythmic exercises that they perform and record directly in the platform. After they complete the exercise, they receive instant feedback, showing which rhythms were accurate and which were not. This makes it easy for both students and teachers to identify what needs more attention. This is what the feedback looks like:
Green note heads mean that you tapped the correct rhythm and held it for the correct length of time. Yellow note heads mean you were either a little early or late, and red note heads mean that you either didn’t hold it long enough, or missed it entirely. VERY cool. There is also the ability to select the rigor of the assessment algorithm: Lenient, Moderate or Strict. You can select that AFTER you have done the assessment if you’re just practicing, which I really like. If you are assigning a rhythm-only auto assessment exercise to your students, you can select this for them. Just remember that this only works when you select Rhythm-only > Auto Assessment.
So why is this SUCH a cool feature? Separating rhythm from pitch is especially helpful for younger students, students with limited instrumental experience, or for classes where you're focusing on foundational skills like steady beat, subdivision, and rhythmic accuracy. Students can concentrate fully on timing, articulation, and understanding note values. One of SRF’s strengths has always been its customization, and that carries over into the rhythm-only feature. Teachers can adjust parameters such as time signature, difficulty level, number of measures, and rhythmic elements. This makes it easy to align practice with classroom goals. I suggest using this new feature in a few ways: as part of a warm-up, for sub plans, as an at-home assignment, or during small-group rotation activities. Since each exercise is auto-generated, students get a different version every time, which keeps the material from getting repetitive. The auto assessment helps with differentiation too. More advanced students can work on syncopated rhythms or changing meters, while beginners can stick with basic note values. I can assign different exercises through SRF’s classroom interface and review each student’s results later, which makes it easier to track progress over time without grading every performance manually.
Because the feedback is visual and easy to understand, students don’t need a lot of direction to get started. This is especially helpful for students who want to improve their rhythmic accuracy but aren’t sure how to practice it on their own.
The Rhythm-Only Auto Assessment in Sight Reading Factory is a practical addition for any music teacher looking to reinforce rhythm reading. It supports a wide range of grade levels and learning situations, and it integrates smoothly into both classroom and individual practice. If rhythm is a skill you’re targeting in your curriculum, this tool can help structure that practice in a clear, measurable way. If you would like to get a FREE 30-day trial of Sight Reading Factory, just click HERE!
Well done, Sight Reading Factory!