I'd like to train rhythm

[ail]

Hi all,

I have found that my main problem is with rhythm and counting. I can't quite count while I'm playing, either because I tend to accelerate or syncrhonize my beats with each note, which totally destroys the purpose of counting.

As such, I decided I want to train rhythm specifically and even learn how to count. I dugged up my old solfege book of 20 odd years ago and tried to use it again. I don't quite remember how I used it: I know I clapped the tempos with my hand with different motions for 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 tempos, but I think I didn't 'sing' the notes, I mean, speaking them at the correct pitch. I did say their names in time, though.

Well, I hated solfege back then and I still do now. I was very uncapable of speaking the notes and waving the rythm with my hand as I did back then, partly because I felt ridiculous, so I put my metronome on, fixed a 90 bpm tempo and played the notes on the piano.

Well, this is what I did, but I'm not sure this is the good way. I'd like to ask you please to tell me what should I do to train appropriately: use the metronome? count and use the metronome? count only? what kind of pieces should I play? can you give suggestions? should I sing the solfege instead of playing?

Thank you all.

Alex

[danny elfboy]

Buy this book:

"The elementary training of musicians" by Paul Hindemith

Hindemith book tried to teach the basis of rhythm and solfege without resorting to the rather silly and cacophonic spoken solfege with movements
He instead utilizes very straight-forward exercises with feet tapping, piano notes tapping, abstract sounds and so on. Before the exercises there's always a chapter explaining the theory behind the rhythm and note values. The theory here is not explained in a dry manner but with very clear and interesting demonstrations and analogies ...