What is the first stage of understanding the beat of music according to the four stages?

Understanding the beat of music begins with a foundational stage where the individual is unable to respond to the beat. This initial stage is crucial as it sets the groundwork for later development in rhythmic skills. In this context, the inability to respond signifies that the person has not yet developed an awareness of the underlying pulse in music.

As individuals progress through the stages of understanding music, they typically first must recognize and internalize the beat before they can comfortably respond to it through movements like clapping or stepping in time with the music. This active engagement with the beat comes only after developing an awareness of its existence, which is why the recognition of being unable to respond represents the starting point in the learning process. Understanding music rhythmically builds upon this early stage of awareness, eventually leading to the ability to perform movements consistently in time with the beat.