The pedagogy of teaching rhythm, especially to beginning musicians, is a complex and fascinating yet often overlooked area of study. Said Robert Gauldin, "when listening to a piece, we frequently take for granted the regulated rhythmic foundation that underlies its melody." Rhythm gives music a sense of organization and must be methodically taught. Because a significant portion of the university music theory curriculum is devoted to teaching aural skills, further study in this area is appropriate and necessary. Like solmization systems and pitch solfège theories, rhythm pedagogy is an ever-evolving field of study. This article explores the importance of a sound before symbol approach to rhythmic instruction, the history of rhythm syllable systems and the importance of effective rhythm syllable pedagogy. Furthermore, it shows how Takadimi, an innovative rhythm syllable system, has evolved based on principles espoused by Zoltán Kodály.